'Go die in your own country': Thai PM comes down on foreigners wanting private cemeteries

Thai PM Anutin Charnvirakul issued harsh remarks against foreigners seeking private cemeteries, saying 'go die in your own country,' amid a controversy over a Jewish cemetery in Chachoengsao Province where authorities removed bodies for reburial. He instructed provincial governors to enforce laws strictly, stressing measures are not aimed at any nationality. A NIDA poll found 76% of respondents heard reports of inappropriate behavior by Israelis, but only 5% experienced it personally.

Thai Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul issued unusually harsh remarks on Thursday against foreigners seeking to establish private cemeteries in Thailand, telling them, 'If you're going to die, go die in your own country.' The comments came during an Interior Ministry policy meeting in Bangkok, where he instructed provincial governors to step up enforcement against foreigners who break the law. Anutin did not explicitly mention Israel or a Jewish cemetery, but his remarks followed a highly publicized controversy surrounding a Jewish cemetery in Chachoengsao Province. On Wednesday, Thai authorities removed four bodies from the site—three Israeli citizens and one British citizen—and transferred them for reburial at a licensed cemetery in Chonburi Province. The cemetery had received a license in 2021, but the permit was subsequently not renewed; one of the Israelis was buried while the license was still valid, while the other three were buried after it had expired. Anutin stressed that the enforcement measures were not aimed at any particular nationality, noting cases involving foreigners from Asia, the Middle East, Central Asia, Europe, and Africa. The remarks come amid growing public discussion in Thailand about the conduct of foreigners, including Israelis, with local media publishing allegations about inappropriate behavior, operating businesses without permits, and breaching local customs. A NIDA Poll Institute survey published this week found that 76.38% of respondents in six provinces had heard through media or social networks about inappropriate or illegal behavior attributed to Israelis, while only 5.11% said they had personally experienced such an incident. Among those exposed to such reports, 77.49% said authorities should enforce the law strictly. The survey was conducted from September 8 to 10 among 1,410 people and does not constitute a fully representative nationwide sample.