Thai Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul issued unusually harsh remarks on Thursday against foreigners seeking to establish private cemeteries in the country, saying, "If you're going to die, go die in your own country. There's no need to come die here," during an Interior Ministry policy meeting in Bangkok, in which he instructed provincial governors to step up enforcement against foreigners who break the law.
Anutin did not explicitly mention Israel or a Jewish cemetery. However, his remarks came as he discussed foreigners establishing houses of worship and private cemeteries, just days after a highly publicized controversy surrounding a Jewish cemetery in Chachoengsao Province, east of Bangkok.
On Wednesday, Thai authorities removed four bodies from the site, those of three Israeli citizens and one British citizen, and transferred them for reburial at a licensed cemetery in Chonburi Province. The cemetery 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 deceased were buried after it had expired.
"Establishing a place of worship is not something you can simply do on your own," Anutin said, according to reports in Thai media, adding that the establishment of religious institutions must take local society and culture into account.
He then turned to the issue of cemeteries. "I recently learned that an application had also been submitted to establish a private cemetery. This is already going too far," he said. "The fact that we allowed you to come here is more than enough. If you come, earn your living honestly. If you're going to die, go die at home; there's no need to come die here. And don't take advantage of others."
Thai PM says enforcement not aimed at any particular nationality
He made the remarks Thursday morning at the Interior Ministry headquarters in Bangkok during a meeting attended by senior ministry officials, with provincial governors joining by video conference. The prime minister ordered authorities to intensify enforcement against foreigners who, he said, exploit Thai citizens, operate businesses illegally, use nominees, or establish institutions without the necessary permits.
Anutin stressed that the enforcement measures he was discussing were not aimed at any particular nationality. He said authorities have encountered cases involving foreigners from various countries in Asia, the Middle East, Central Asia, Europe, and Africa. He added that foreigners who enter Thailand legally, earn an honest living, and respect the country's laws and culture are welcome to continue coming.
The remarks come amid growing public discussion in Thailand about the conduct of foreigners in the country, including Israelis. In recent months, local media have published allegations concerning inappropriate behavior at tourist sites, operating businesses without permits, using nominees, holding land in violation of the law, and breaching local customs.
A survey by the NIDA Poll Institute published this week also illustrates the role of media exposure in shaping the discussion. Some 76.38% of respondents in six provinces said they had heard through the media or social networks about inappropriate or illegal behavior attributed to Israelis in Thailand. By contrast, only 5.11% said they had personally experienced such an incident.
Among respondents who had been exposed to such reports or who reported direct experience, 77.49% said the authorities should enforce the law strictly. The survey was conducted from September 8 to 10 among 1,410 people in Bangkok and the provinces of Chachoengsao, Chonburi, Surat Thani, Phuket, and Mae Hong Son, meaning it does not constitute a fully representative nationwide sample.
Thai attitudes toward Israelis shifting
In recent weeks, attitudes toward Israelis have become a more prominent subject in Thai public discourse, against the backdrop of protests, media reports, and contacts between Thai officials and Israeli representatives. At the same time, the Thai government has continued to stress that enforcement measures against illegal activity by foreigners are not directed at Israelis alone.
Now, days after the bodies were removed from the Jewish cemetery, the prime minister's unusually sharp remarks about the establishment of private cemeteries add another layer to the discussion, even though Anutin himself did not explicitly connect his comments to Israelis or Jews.