Chachoengsao rejects Jewish cemetery permit extension

UPDATE

Four graves found at Jewish cemetery in Chachoengsao

Pictures courtesy of Daily News

Officials have inspected a Jewish cemetery in Bang Khla district, Chachoengsao, after concerns were raised by local residents and found four graves, including three said to have been buried after the site's permit had expired.

The inspection took place on September 4 at the cemetery in Moo 2, Samet Tai subdistrict. A representative of the company linked to the site opened its gate for Bang Khla district officials, Samet Tai Subdistrict Administrative Organisation staff, Bang Khla police and local leaders.

The local authority had contacted the company after the cemetery became the subject of social-media discussion.

Inspectors find three additional graves

Officials initially believed there was only one body at the site, for which permission had previously been sought. However, they found three further graves inside a blue tent.

Two of those graves had been covered with cement and had name plaques, similar to the grave outside the tent. The third had been buried in the ground, marked only by stones around the plot and a temporary handwritten name sign.

Authorities said the three graves inside the tent appeared to have been added in late 2025. Samet Tai kamnan Namphueng Kamsa-at said two were buried late last year, while the third appeared more recent because no cement structure had yet been built around it.

She said the tent appeared intended to prevent people outside from seeing the graves. During the inspection, the man representing the company remained at a distance and did not approach the burial plots, she said, shouting: "Aren't you afraid of ghosts?"

Residents call for bodies to be moved

Local resident Nuanphan Chaengcharoen, 53, called on authorities to quickly move the bodies out of the community. She said villagers had complained to several agencies and wanted action against the company and those involved.

Nuanphan also questioned the location of the cemetery, saying its original permission application identified Moo 4 in Samet Tai, while the cemetery was built in Moo 2. She said residents might not have known the site was being used as a cemetery had a body not been brought into the area.

Dr Kittipong Sileuang, president of the Samet Tai Subdistrict Administrative Organisation, said officials had found an alleged breach involving bodies brought in for burial after the permit expired.

He said the authority would file a complaint at Bang Khla Police Station against the company. Initially, the matter was considered an offence under the Public Health Act, while officials will examine whether other laws also apply.

Kittipong said the company would be asked to remove the tent. Temporary tents may be erected for up to 10 days, but beyond that they are treated as structures requiring permission, he said.

The investigation into the operation of site remains ongoing.

5 September 2026

1 hour ago, hughrection said:

Can't there be a half way point - the bodies are cremated and then the urns are placed in the ground at this location?

On the one hand, I think that if you’re a foreigner and you choose to live (and die) in Thailand, you should be fully prepared to follow at least some local practices, e.g. getting cremated regardless of what your own religious/societal beliefs may be. A grave takes up a lot of space and can result in sanitary hazard.

On the other hand, there are plenty of foreign cemeteries around Thailand, as people here have noted, so there should be a way to accommodate a Jewish one. Such cemeteries can become landmarks that celebrate a country’s relations with immigrant populations through history. The Protestant Cemetery in Rome, where Keats and Shelley among many others are buried, is an astonishing place to visit.

I hope they can work something out. Allowing cremation and then having urns placed in small plots in the ground as you suggest sounds reasonable to me.

Troll post removed @Peter Crow rule 9. You will not post disruptive or inflammatory messages. You will respect other members and post in a civil manner. Personal attacks, insults or hate speech posted on the forum or sent by private message are not allowed.

1 hour ago, LukKrueng said:

Thai Muslims are not being cremated. Thai Chinese are not being cremated.

Read the article again. There was a permit to use it as a cemetery, no one broke the law.

I’m not sure if you are being sarcastic when you say to read the article again. The very first sentence says:

“Chachoengsao authorities have rejected an application to extend a permit for a proposed Jewish cemetery in Bang Khla district, following local concerns about possible effects on water sources and natural resources.”

There was a permit, it presumably expired because it was not extended.

1 hour ago, LukKrueng said:

Thai Muslims are not being cremated. Thai Chinese are not being cremated.

Yes I have seen Chinese graveyards before but that's to be expected considering the history. Jewish Thai community though? These are just expats or naturalized foreigners right? That's why this story is strange and doesn't sit well.

1 hour ago, NorthernRyland said:

I don't understand why this idea even exists. Are these to Jews too good to be cremated like the Thais? When in Rome. If they insist on burial then clearly they should transport the body and not leave it in Thailand for eternity.

I agree. And the same then should apply to Muslims in Thailand. Compare to Japan, where Muslims are busy creating their own cemeteries illegally and trying to expand into villages. There are Christian cemeteries as well. Those that are historic should be left in place. Otherwise, the same rule should apply to them too.

For observant Jews cremation is strictly forbidden Even a Jew with a tattoo can't be buried in a Jewish cemetery.

If the objection to the cemetery there is really about water concerns that sounds legit

But with the current social media hysteria about Israelis in Thailand you have to wonder

25 minutes ago, NorthernRyland said:

Yes I have seen Chinese graveyards before but that's to be expected considering the history. Jewish Thai community though? These are just expats or naturalized foreigners right? That's why this story is strange and doesn't sit well.

Your ignorance and bigotry doesn't sit well.

1 hour ago, Tyke said:

Its about taking land for improper use. Does that ring a bell?

No. You're trying to connect unrelated things.

1 hour ago, NorthernRyland said:

I don't understand why this idea even exists. Are these to Jews too good to be cremated like the Thais? When in Rome. If they insist on burial then clearly they should transport the body and not leave it in Thailand for eternity.

Your ignorance is stunning.

2 hours ago, AustinRacing said:

Careful guys. If granted the next thing will be “we need to create a buffer/safe zone around the cemetery to ensure safety of our beloved”. 🫢

This has nothing to do with the Israeli Palestinian conflict.

To be clear many Jewish people are cremated

Generally they are more secular or atheist Jews.

But it's a very extreme taboo for religious Jews.

The group behind the cemeteries in question are very religious.

Edited Saturday at 04:07 AM3 days by Jingthing

14 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

If the objection to the cemetery there is really about water concerns that sounds legit

The casket must be completely biodegradable and encourage the body to return naturally to the earth.

I read that it is common for a Jewish casket to have several holes drilled into the bottom panel. This is done intentionally to let the soil make direct contact with the body shroud, accelerating the decomposition process.

Might not be good for area water quality.

Regardless of whether the objection is Kosher I hope the organization can find a more friction free alternative location.

3 hours ago, LukKrueng said:

Thai Muslims are not being cremated. Thai Chinese are not being cremated.

Read the article again. There was a permit to use it as a cemetery, no one broke the law.

1. 
   Chachoengsao rejects Jewish cemetery permit extension

1 hour ago, stevenl said:

You do realise that in certain areas of Thailand, Muslims are the original population?

So? If it's a nationwide policy, then it should be followed by all. No special carve outs for Muslims. People have been Christians in Thailand for multiple generations. No carve outs for them either. Just one standard law for all.

1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

This has nothing to do with the Israeli Palestinian conflict.

Well said. But Jews haters can’t see beyond that. The very mention of Jews will get their knickers in a twist

26 minutes ago, digger70 said:

1. 
   Chachoengsao rejects Jewish cemetery permit extension

And the cemetery was built in a different place to the original permit.

its original permission application identified Moo 4 in Samet Tai, while the cemetery was built in Moo 2.

1 minute ago, emptypockets said:

And the cemetery was built in a different place to the original permit.

its original permission application identified Moo 4 in Samet Tai, while the cemetery was built in Moo 2.

If that''s the truth that's obviously a problem.

Edited Saturday at 05:49 AM3 days by Jingthing