'Go die in your own country': Thai PM comes down on foreigners wanting private cemeteries
Anutin did not explicitly mention Israel or a Jewish cemetery. However, his remarks came just days after a highly publicized controversy surrounding a Jewish cemetery in Chachoengsao Province.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul expressed strong disapproval on Thursday regarding foreigners attempting to build private cemeteries in Thailand, stating, "If you're going to die, go die in your own country." During an Interior Ministry policy meeting in Bangkok, he instructed provincial governors to crack down on foreigners breaking the law.
While Anutin did not specifically mention Israel or a Jewish cemetery, his remarks came just days after a significant controversy involving a Jewish cemetery in Chachoengsao Province, located east of Bangkok.
The issue arose when Thai authorities removed four bodies from the cemetery, including those of three Israeli citizens and one British citizen, transferring them to a licensed cemetery in Chonburi Province. One of the buried Israelis had been interred while the cemetery's license was still active, while the other three were buried after the license had expired. Anutin emphasized that establishing a place of worship is not something individuals can undertake independently and must consider local society and culture.
Moreover, he commented on a separate application for a private cemetery, deeming it "already going too far." He asserted that Thailand's welcome to foreigners is sufficient, advising them to earn a living legitimately and suggesting that if they plan to die, it should be in their home country. Anutin further stressed that the enforcement measures against foreigners were not targeted at any specific nationality, as authorities had encountered cases involving individuals from various countries in Asia, the Middle East, Central Asia, Europe, and Africa.
The remarks come amid heightened public discourse in Thailand concerning the behavior of foreigners, including Israelis. A recent survey by the NIDA Poll Institute found that 76.38% of respondents in six provinces had heard about inappropriate or illegal activities attributed to Israelis in Thailand through media or social networks, compared to only 5.11% who reported personal experiences.
Those exposed to such reports or incidents were overwhelmingly supportive of strict law enforcement, with 77.49% advocating for stringent enforcement. This shift in Thai public attitudes toward Israelis, coupled with the prime minister's sharp comments on private cemeteries, adds another dimension to the ongoing discussion.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
