Two Australian couples stopped from leaving Thailand with surrogate babies

[webfact]

Two Australian couples stopped from leaving Thailand with surrogate babies
By South East Asia correspondent Samantha Hawley

BANGKOK: -- Immigration officials at Bangkok's international airport have stopped two Australian couples from leaving the country with their surrogate babies.

The ABC understands the same-sex couples, including one which was travelling with the surrogate mother, were prevented from flying out on Thursday afternoon.

Police have ordered immigration not to allow surrogate babies out of the country unless there is a court order, the ABC has been told.

It is believed two American couples were also stopped from leaving Thailand in the 24 hours beforehand.

Thailand's newly formed national assembly, which is heavily dominated by members of the military, had been handed draft laws to ban commercial surrogacy earlier this week.

The ruling army general does not want Thailand to be a surrogacy hub and is expected to move quickly to outlaw the practice, essentially ending a lucrative foreign market.

The changes come in the wake of controversy surrounding a West Australian couple accused by their Thai surrogate of abandoning their newborn son - known as baby Gammy, who has Down syndrome - and only taking home his healthy twin sister.

Full story: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-08-14/australian-couples-stopped-leaving-thailand-surrogate-babies/5672094

-- ABC 2014-08-15

[wonder6281]

Ah! so now the crap has hit the fan they are stopping them at the Airport! I hope the initial breach and how it happened is being investigated otherwise it is just knee jerk reaction to a cover up!

[chooka]

Ah! so now the crap has hit the fan they are stopping them at the Airport! I hope the initial breach and how it happened is being investigated otherwise it is just knee jerk reaction to a cover up!

It is also against Thai Human Trafficking laws and the country is under huge pressure internationally to stamp out human trafficking. Add this and the huge international attention Thailand is receiving in regards to baby Gammy and the Junta is going to act. I don't think this will just be a simple knew jerk reaction. I saw on Australian Television news this morning that all people with young children are being checked for proof of parentage.

[keith101]

stopping same sex couples from taking babies out of the country is good.i have no problem with people having a same sex partner but do not believe they should come here looking to get children they cannot have naturally.basicly same sex partners cannot have babies with each other and therefore cannot have children.i am not religious at all but do believe in the natural order of life.

[Thai at Heart]

Ah! so now the crap has hit the fan they are stopping them at the Airport! I hope the initial breach and how it happened is being investigated otherwise it is just knee jerk reaction to a cover up!

It is also against Thai Human Trafficking laws and the country is under huge pressure internationally to stamp out human trafficking. Add this and the huge international attention Thailand is receiving in regards to baby Gammy and the Junta is going to act. I don't think this will just be a simple knew jerk reaction. I saw on Australian Television news this morning that all people with young children are being checked for proof of parentage.

Correct.

This is a breach of Thai law and cannot be allowed to continue until a considered change or non change of the law is approved.

[Thai at Heart]

Why are same sex men creating babies. Just adopt.

[thesetat2013]

Hmmmm!!! Another ban placed on something without thinking about the repercussions.

[Jessi]

stopping same sex couples from taking babies out of the country is good.i have no problem with people having a same sex partner but do not believe they should come here looking to get children they cannot have naturally.basicly same sex partners cannot have babies with each other and therefore cannot have children.i am not religious at all but do believe in the natural order of life.

+ 10

[AyG]

stopping same sex couples from taking babies out of the country is good.i have no problem with people having a same sex partner but do not believe they should come here looking to get children they cannot have naturally.basicly same sex partners cannot have babies with each other and therefore cannot have children.i am not religious at all but do believe in the natural order of life.

Do you also have a problem with infertile heterosexual couples having children? Or are you just a homophobic bigot?

[Prbkk]

I agree that adoption, when available, is a preferable option to surrogacy. However, it is the lack of clarity around the legality of these procedures that has led to this situation. There should be some leniency for those couples, heterosexual or same sex, who have entered into arrangements in good faith. Stopping people at the airport in this way is too cruel. By all means tighten the laws but don't criminalise those who have done nothing more than try to make a family. Yes, adoption is better.

[noitom]

The Thais are rushing to coverup issues in this Thai surrogacy trade. the Thais need international supervision and outrage in order to bring any attention to it. It's a good Thai business, and Thais don't care too much about any standards, morals, rules, or regulations.

[chainarong]

Doubtless views will vary on this contentious subject, however it has come about because of slack, corrupt , miss - management from Thai officials, the usual systematic failure of checks and balances, there requires an inquiry into this area, doctors, nurses ,birth registers, you name it, one big cover up , don't place the entire blame on overseas couples, they should have gone further to investigate with a lawyer, but when someone tells you that all is well you are allowed to do this in Thailand or we have special authority, who's to argue, the problems start when you have that crazy Jap with nine births, what for, we all know why, shame on Thailand once again, no doubt about you, always in the international media all for the wrong reasons.

[JeremyBowskill]

stopping same sex couples from taking babies out of the country is good.i have no problem with people having a same sex partner but do not believe they should come here looking to get children they cannot have naturally.basicly same sex partners cannot have babies with each other and therefore cannot have children.i am not religious at all but do believe in the natural order of life.

Do you also have a problem with infertile heterosexual couples having children? Or are you just a homophobic bigot?

What's homophobic about biology?

[Hisseho]

Hello,

I find it perfectly normal that Thaïes authorities halt trade surrogates on their territory.

Against all odds, the military once again seem to do well.

[kriswillems]

stopping same sex couples from taking babies out of the country is good.i have no problem with people having a same sex partner but do not believe they should come here looking to get children they cannot have naturally.basicly same sex partners cannot have babies with each other and therefore cannot have children.i am not religious at all but do believe in the natural order of life.

Do you also have a problem with infertile heterosexual couples having children? Or are you just a homophobic bigot?

What's homophobic about biology?

Well, you didn't really answer his question. Infertility is also something biological ....

[ozziepete]

stopping same sex couples from taking babies out of the country is good.i have no problem with people having a same sex partner but do not believe they should come here looking to get children they cannot have naturally.basicly same sex partners cannot have babies with each other and therefore cannot have children.i am not religious at all but do believe in the natural order of life.

Do you also have a problem with infertile heterosexual couples having children? Or are you just a homophobic bigot?

Does it say anything about heterosexual couples here. NO. I think you are stroking the wrong pole AyG. I agree if you wish to be in a same sex relationship then you and your partner are waving the right to bear child. But when same sex go to the length of surrogacy then it is wrong. Why not adopt? Yeh Yeh you will say but it is not theirs or ours. Well if you are in a same sex relationship then surrogacy is not either as you only have half the picture. What has happened with the sister of Gammy is wrong in all ways. 1The parents age.2His criminal record. In Australia he can not live with children due to his convictions or live in certain areas.

This is a good thing in a lot of ways.

[alleykat]

stopping same sex couples from taking babies out of the country is good.i have no problem with people having a same sex partner but do not believe they should come here looking to get children they cannot have naturally.basicly same sex partners cannot have babies with each other and therefore cannot have children.i am not religious at all but do believe in the natural order of life.

Do you also have a problem with infertile heterosexual couples having children? Or are you just a homophobic bigot?

I agree that same sex couples should not be coming here to make children. Call me what you like.

Look at the recent case of the two gay males in Cairns who bought a baby boy in Russia, took him to Australia and made him their sex slave. And imagine how it must screw with the kids heads being bought up by two gays as their fathers.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Horton Jones]

I'm surprised I am not reading this point here: The baby is BIOLOGICALLY related to the foreigner. An agreement had been made, a contract signed. In hearing that it has "now been declared illegal", I can deduce that it has been up until now, legal. They cannot just shut it down so suddenly now. Let me re-phrase that: they should not just shut it down suddenly. Even if it is non-biological adoption, I think the contract/agreement should be honoured if all parties still want to honor it. In most countries (probably not Thailand, because Thai biology is of course superior) the biological parent would have some RIGHTS in the case. This is not a case of human trafficking of some sort, it is a case of the human rights violation of the adopting, biological parent who had a legitimate agreement. If the government wants to halt this practice that is fine with me, probably a good idea. But once again this year there is a hard line execution of the policy. I cannot help but think a large part of the problem is what is written above, "The Thai's are rushing to...." Well, that statement, time and time again, holds the main problem. They don't rush well.

[Jessi]

stopping same sex couples from taking babies out of the country is good.i have no problem with people having a same sex partner but do not believe they should come here looking to get children they cannot have naturally.basicly same sex partners cannot have babies with each other and therefore cannot have children.i am not religious at all but do believe in the natural order of life.

Do you also have a problem with infertile heterosexual couples having children? Or are you just a homophobic bigot?

I agree that same sex couples should not be coming here to make children. Call me what you like.

Look at the recent case of the two gay males in Cairns who bought a baby boy in Russia, took him to Australia and made him their sex slave. And imagine how it must screw with the kids heads being bought up by two gays as their fathers.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

This is the exact case I was thinking of. This kind of thing just opens the doors for Pedo's of both sexes, yes surprise!! there are plenty of female pedo's out there, just use google.

[Horton Jones]

I suppose if the adopting, biological parents can afford to, the solution is to bring the pregnant Thai woman out of the country to have the child. Hmmm, will pregnant women soon be stopped and interrogated by police or military at airports, suspected of being a surrogate??

[chooka]

stopping same sex couples from taking babies out of the country is good.i have no problem with people having a same sex partner but do not believe they should come here looking to get children they cannot have naturally.basicly same sex partners cannot have babies with each other and therefore cannot have children.i am not religious at all but do believe in the natural order of life.

Do you also have a problem with infertile heterosexual couples having children? Or are you just a homophobic bigot?

I agree that same sex couples should not be coming here to make children. Call me what you like.

Look at the recent case of the two gay males in Cairns who bought a baby boy in Russia, took him to Australia and made him their sex slave. And imagine how it must screw with the kids heads being bought up by two gays as their fathers.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

It is illegal for same sex couples to use the service of a surrogate in Thailand. For these gay couples to get the children out of Thailand they have to apply to Family Court to be deemed the parents which will take up to 6 months of red tape. Somehow I doubt that the Thai Family Court will deem them legal parents as the child was acquired illegally and the Court would only be supporting illegal activity if they do.

[cardinalblue]

This is exactly what australian authorities feared that Thailand would do with the existing couples who had already started the process...

With a little forethought and creative thinking, all couples within nine months of baby grammy should have been grandfathered in then the law applied (for the first time) to new cases after nine months...

Reasoning and common sense should have been the driving force in when to enforce the law but not against cases where the pregnancy already began...

Another black eye on Thailand on how they are handling it....

CB

[webfact]

Two Australian couples with surrogate babies stopped at Bangkok Airport
By Lindsay Murdoch, Larissa Nicholson

BANGKOK: -- Immigration officials at Bangkok’s international airport stopped two Australian couples with surrogate babies from leaving the country on Thursday, the ABC reported.

One of the same-sex couples was travelling with the surrogate mother.

The airport intervention comes after it was revealed up to 150 Australian couples caught up in Thailand’s crackdown on surrogacy will have to obtain permission of the country’s Family Juvenile Court to take home their babies born to Thai surrogate mothers.

This requirement, and stricter document requirements, will cause agonising months of waiting for the parents before they can leave Thailand with their babies, surrogacy experts say.

Thai immigration authorities have advised the Australian embassy in Bangkok the parents will require an order of the court confirming the birth mother has given up her rights to custody of the child.

The embassy has been told that if airport immigration officials suspect a child has been born by surrogacy in Thailand, parents will be required to provide the child’s birth certificate, copy of the mother’s identification card, copy of the intended parent’s passports and the surrogacy contract.

Full story: http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/2489836/two-australian-couples-with-surrogate-babies-stopped-at-bangkok-airport/?cs=12

-- ILLAWARRA MERCURY 2014-08-15

[luk AJ]

stopping same sex couples from taking babies out of the country is good.i have no problem with people having a same sex partner but do not believe they should come here looking to get children they cannot have naturally.basicly same sex partners cannot have babies with each other and therefore cannot have children.i am not religious at all but do believe in the natural order of life.

i completely agree with Keith 101, no problem with gay people, but keep children out of gay relations. This is my personal opinion, suppose these babies would be able to vote, what would they agree? By the way I thought surrogate babies are genetically 100% from the parents and the surrogate mother got a fertilized egg from the real mother inplanted right?

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[jpinx]

.............surrogate babies are genetically 100% from the parents and the surrogate mother got a fertilized egg from the real mother inplanted right?

Correct -- by definition..

It has to be said that the whole topic of surrogacy is riddled with mis-conceptions and abuse.

[recycled]

stopping same sex couples from taking babies out of the country is good.i have no problem with people having a same sex partner but do not believe they should come here looking to get children they cannot have naturally.basicly same sex partners cannot have babies with each other and therefore cannot have children.i am not religious at all but do believe in the natural order of life.

Do you also have a problem with infertile heterosexual couples having children? Or are you just a homophobic bigot?

Do you have a problem with all and anybody airing their beliefs or only straight people?

[kingstonkid]

Hmmmm!!! Another ban placed on something without thinking about the repercussions.

Let's see the repercussions

No more people coming in thinking they can buy a baby that their own country will not allow them to have.

Less women selling their bodies

Babies being created for pedophile to later use for their own and others enjoyment.

People in the country having one less unethical way to earn a living.

OK I have thought about the repercussions.

WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?

GO NCPO STILL NUMBER 1 ON THE HIT PARADE DOING A GREAT JOB GENERAL

[wilcopops]

Why are same sex men creating babies. Just adopt.

What is a "same sex man"?

[Bulldozer Dawn]

When the Junta is finished closing bars, tuk tuk stands, beach restaurants, logging and development in National Parks, surrogacy and other illegal activities, they will realise that they have gutted the Thai economy.

[wilcopops]

Who is involved in this DOCTORS? - so what does that say about ethics in general in the Thai medical industry.

As for having to stop couples at the border? What are they thinking?