BANGKOK: Gammy, the boy at the centre of a surrogacy scandal in Thailand, could receive Australian citizenship, which would open the way for him to be eligible to receive healthcare and other benefits in Australia.
Gammy's Thai surrogate mother Pattharamon Chanbua has lodged papers applying for his citizenship with the Australian embassy in Bangkok.
The papers name Australian sex offender David Farnell as the boy's father and Ms Pattharamon as his mother.
Ms Pattharamon has said previously that Mr Farnell provided the sperm and an unnamed Thai woman provided eggs that led to her carrying Gammy and a twin sister for Mr Farnell and his wife Wendy.
Ms Pattharamon is being helped by the Australian charity Hands Across the Water to apply for Australian citizenship for Gammy, who has Down syndrome.
She says citizenship will be an extra safeguard for Gammy who has had health problems since he was born in a Bangkok public hospital last December.
Fairfax Media broke the story in August that Mr and Mrs Farnell had abandoned Gammy and taken healthy Pipah to Australia, prompting Thai authorities to crack down on Thailand's then-booming surrogacy industry and forcing the closure of dozens of clinics across Bangkok.
Thailand's military-dominated government last week considered legislation to outlaw commercial surrogacy with penalties of up to 10 years in jail for violators.
Peter Baines, the founder of Hands Across the Water, said the application lodged with the embassy ''will be accessed on its merits. It's going through the normal process,'' he said.
Mr Baines said he hoped that citizenship would give Gammy some entitlement and security.
Gammy and his family have settled into a new house, which was purchased with money raised after Fairfax Media revealed Gammy's plight.
''They are loving the space. The other kids are enjoying their new freedom and having somewhere to play after school and to do their homework,'' he said.
''It's also a healthier environment for Gammy and they've made it home.''
However Gammy has had to make frequent trips to hospital for specialised care.
Western Australia's child protection minister Helen Morton said earlier this month a comprehensive safety and well-being assessment had been conducted and a safety plan accepted for Pipah, who remains in the custody of the Farnells.
''This is just the beginning of the department's interaction with this family and there will be continual and rigorous testing of the safety plan, as well as continued support provided,'' she said.
The Australian Government refuses to comment on the Gammy case, citing privacy laws.
Gammy's Thai surrogate mother Pattharamon Chanbua has lodged papers applying for his citizenship with the Australian embassy in Bangkok.
The papers name Australian sex offender David Farnell as the boy's father and Ms Pattharamon as his mother.
Ms Pattharamon has said previously that Mr Farnell provided the sperm and an unnamed Thai woman provided eggs that led to her carrying Gammy and a twin sister for Mr Farnell and his wife Wendy.
Ms Pattharamon is being helped by the Australian charity Hands Across the Water to apply for Australian citizenship for Gammy, who has Down syndrome.
She says citizenship will be an extra safeguard for Gammy who has had health problems since he was born in a Bangkok public hospital last December.
Fairfax Media broke the story in August that Mr and Mrs Farnell had abandoned Gammy and taken healthy Pipah to Australia, prompting Thai authorities to crack down on Thailand's then-booming surrogacy industry and forcing the closure of dozens of clinics across Bangkok.
Thailand's military-dominated government last week considered legislation to outlaw commercial surrogacy with penalties of up to 10 years in jail for violators.
Peter Baines, the founder of Hands Across the Water, said the application lodged with the embassy ''will be accessed on its merits. It's going through the normal process,'' he said.
Mr Baines said he hoped that citizenship would give Gammy some entitlement and security.
Gammy and his family have settled into a new house, which was purchased with money raised after Fairfax Media revealed Gammy's plight.
''They are loving the space. The other kids are enjoying their new freedom and having somewhere to play after school and to do their homework,'' he said.
''It's also a healthier environment for Gammy and they've made it home.''
However Gammy has had to make frequent trips to hospital for specialised care.
Western Australia's child protection minister Helen Morton said earlier this month a comprehensive safety and well-being assessment had been conducted and a safety plan accepted for Pipah, who remains in the custody of the Farnells.
''This is just the beginning of the department's interaction with this family and there will be continual and rigorous testing of the safety plan, as well as continued support provided,'' she said.
The Australian Government refuses to comment on the Gammy case, citing privacy laws.
Whilst Mr Farnell is undoubtedly a despicable character is their really any reason to sensationalise the story and stigmatize the child by regurgitating the fact that Farnell is a sex offender? Very tabloid and adds nothing to the child's citizenship application.
Posted by Mister Ree on November 23, 2014 09:18