Picture courtesy of Matichon

 

An Udon Thani farmer, 61-year-old Samoe Tiangthae, has been sued by a foreign neighbour and his Thai wife, who claim smoke from charcoal fires and insect-repelling flames for his cattle caused illness and damaged an air purifier. The couple is demanding 100,000 baht in compensation, while Samoe, a local resident, says he cannot afford the amount.

 

Samoe inherited over four rai of land in Na Kha, Mueang district, Udon Thani, where he lives about 1–2 kilometres from the nearest village. He sold two rai to neighbours, leaving around two rai for his home and farming activities. He constructed a single-storey house in 2020 and regularly burns wood, for charcoal to cook food and light fires to keep mosquitoes away from his six cattle, a practice he describes as traditional and common among local villagers.

 

The foreign neighbour, aged around 75, with a Thai wife nicknamed “Khun Nai Kho” (approx. 50), had purchased 15 rai nearby and built a large house separated by a dirt road. Initially, the couple engaged with Samoe during construction, but after erecting a 2.5-metre-high fence, they reportedly stopped interacting. Samoe says that when he lit fires for cooking or to protect his animals, the couple photographed and filmed the smoke, later submitting complaints to the subdistrict headman and the local administrative office.

 

Following the complaints, Samoe ceased burning charcoal for cooking in 2020, switching to gas. However, when he resumed lighting fires to protect his cattle from insects, the foreign couple reportedly filed a legal case citing violations under Thailand’s Penal Code Section 220 and Public Health Act 1992 Sections 25, 26, 28, and 74. Samoe was taken to court, released on bail of 10,000 baht and prohibited from fleeing. The couple claims smoke and odours made the husband ill and damaged an air purifier.

 

Local assistance has been provided by volunteer lawyer Chaiyrit Khaowongthong (“Lawyer Max”) and Udon Thani provincial councillor Sanya Yaembuppha. Lawyer Max confirmed he will represent Samoe and review the case files, noting the state provides volunteer legal support to residents unable to afford private counsel. Councillor Sanya said the couple are outsiders unfamiliar with rural customs and mediation efforts will continue to resolve the dispute.

 

Samoe’s next court hearing is scheduled for 6 October 2025. Authorities and legal representatives aim to ensure the case is fairly adjudicated, taking into account the farmer’s traditional practices and livelihood. Mediation may be pursued to achieve a reasonable resolution for both parties.

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• Farmer Samoe is being sued for smoke from fires used to cook and protect cattle.

• The foreign neighbour is demanding 100,000 baht, which Samoe cannot afford.

• Volunteer legal aid and local officials are assisting Samoe ahead of the 6 October hearing.

 

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  Adapted by Asean Now from Matichon 2025-09-21

 

 

 

 

Isn't it potentially dangerous to go down this path of filing lawsuits as a foreigner in Thailand?

 

There are laws in Thailand against such antisocial behaviour as burning but the problem is the laws are so rarely enforced that people carry on archaic practices with no regard for the impact on others. Authorities must decide whether they are going to follow the law or give up and allow people to carry on ruining the environment for others.

11 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

Isn't it potentially dangerous to go down this path of filing lawsuits as a foreigner in Thailand?

 

from a bullet - yes

from civil outcome - no

6 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

Isn't it potentially dangerous to go down this path of filing lawsuits as a foreigner in Thailand?

 

Several years ago a foreign friend of mine had his life severely impacted by his immediate neighbour deciding to keep many pigs on his property. The stench was appalling so he and his Thai wife went the the local Govt Office where they discovered there were laws against keeping such livestock in the village. The neighbour complied with a removal order restoring the air quality.

11 hours ago, edwinchester said:

Several years ago a foreign friend of mine had his life severely impacted by his immediate neighbour deciding to keep many pigs on his property. The stench was appalling so he and his Thai wife went the the local Govt Office where they discovered there were laws against keeping such livestock in the village. The neighbour complied with a removal order restoring the air quality.

 

some neighbors may not be so cooperative. 

you need to gauge their reaction. and possibly sell up and move or risk getting yourself killed if you have a crazy neighbor. 

 

35 minutes ago, edwinchester said:

There are laws in Thailand against such antisocial behaviour as burning but the problem is the laws are so rarely enforced that people carry on archaic practices with no regard for the impact on others. Authorities must decide whether they are going to follow the law or give up and allow people to carry on ruining the environment for others.

 

The root problem as I see it is that Thai people themselves are complicit and very happy to live their lives inhaling smoke daily.

 

Unless that culture changes it's going to be an uphill battle you can never win and you'll make lots of enemies on the way. Once you get outside of cities you need to be in full control of your immediate area so that means no tightly packed villages. It really sucks because they're nice people but they simply can't be trusted to not pollute.

One man while thousands of others working under the BP Corporation make others seriously ill and die yearly and government every year does NOTHING!

2 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

The root problem as I see it is that Thai people themselves are complicit and very happy to live their lives inhaling smoke daily.

What can you expect?

Whenever I get excited (after 5 min or so) that someone in front or on our plot lets his stinky health hazard Diesel truck running for no purpose, I get an evil eye.

If it's on the road in front I get a "he can do, not your road".

Daily life in Thailand.

Neighbors still starting the charcoal fire with some tire rubber.

I have to bite my tongue!

2 hours ago, save the frogs said:

Isn't it potentially dangerous to go down this path of filing lawsuits as a foreigner in Thailand?

 

Yes, the usual approach is to let them bother another Thai and then just piggyback on that.

 

 

1 hour ago, edwinchester said:

Several years ago a foreign friend of mine had his life severely impacted by his immediate neighbour deciding to keep many pigs on his property. The stench was appalling so he and his Thai wife went the the local Govt Office where they discovered there were laws against keeping such livestock in the village. The neighbour complied with a removal order restoring the air quality.

Were there Thai neighbours nearby, and didn’t they complain?

 

 

Just now, KhunBENQ said:

What can you expect?

Whenever I get excited (after 5 min or so) that someone in front or on our plot lets his stinky health hazard Diesel truck running for no purpose, I get an evil eye.

If it's on the road in front I get a "he can do, not your road".

Daily life in Thailand.

Neighbors still starting the charcoal fire with some tire rubber.

I have to bite my tongue!

Sounds like my thai gf, so I just let her inhale and I get to live in a better environment away from the land on the Thais, most of the time.

 

 

Farang go home!

Going to be a big payout to the lawyers.

They are always,  the only true winners.

Good luck. 

We have these problems in the village, recently the woman across the road from our house had a big tree cut down and cut up and then she burned it, the smoke was so heavy and the wind blew it right across to our house. It was terrible, we were engulfed in thick smoke. Anyway, in the interest of keeping harmony we didn't complain. Then the following evening she relit the fire and once again the smoke was blown over to us. My wife knows the woman's brother so she went and asked her brother to go ask her to stop. Which is what happened and the fire was put out. But the woman was shouting out loud protest about having to put the fire out. So it's like she believes she has a God given right to do what she wishes regardless of whether it inconveniences others. 

1 hour ago, falangUK said:

Were there Thai neighbours nearby, and didn’t they complain?

 

 

I used to think things like smoke and loud noise/music doesn't bother most Thais, and if it does they don't care and mai pen rai kicks in. But actually it does annoy them and it's fear that prevents many from complaining. 

5 minutes ago, grain said:

I used to think things like smoke and loud noise/music doesn't bother most Thais, and if it does they don't care and mai pen rai kicks in. But actually it does annoy them and it's fear that prevents many from complaining. 

Absolutely 💯 until they can't take it anymore... then fireworks 🎆 😒 

 

Not only villages, burning also happens in towns and affects schools etc. These people should be hung, drawn and quartered, but, as a foreigner, please do the vilifying through another Thai. 

Just now, grain said:

I used to think things like smoke and loud noise/music doesn't bother most Thais, and if it does they don't care and mai pen rai kicks in. But actually it does annoy them and it's fear that prevents many from complaining. 

 

It's not fear that stops them. It's the Thai cultural equivalent of 'live and let live' which manifests itself as mai bpen rai.

6 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

the couple photographed and filmed the smoke, later submitting complaints to the subdistrict headman and the local administrative office.

 

 

I hope the 75year old ex-pat old fart does not try to light a BBQ using charcoal! Maybe farmer Samoe can then reciprocate the smoke complaint!

 

Good luck Samoe, I wish you success in Court

Can´t afford?! Don´t do stupid things, then. Pay up and shut up

There are no laws for Thai people only for foreigners... This is an example... The Thai man can create smoke, and is being protected, while if it was the foreigner who did it, he would be fined as he committed a crime for air pollution and so... In my surroundings there are many wildfires by Thai farmers, but they are allowed. One day I made a wildfire and the police came and got me a warning and next he would fine me... Double standards...And I get angry when I read posts here like farang go home or lighting a barbeque.. I am wondering if all foreigners would do that what would become of Thailand.. This kind of people forget what is contributed to the economy by foreigners.. they forget that Thailand needs tourists, that are foreigners too... but stupidity can not be cured, but Thai people should be more welcoming.. This is a case that can cause real problems.

Take that poor Thai farmer for everything he's worth! 

 

That's the spirit. 

Just as well many of the above don’t live near me. With the 100 odd trees there is always stuff to burn that won't go through the mulcher. Not being able to burn in wet season I have half a dozen piles waiting to dry out.

19 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

There are no laws for Thai people only for foreigners... This is an example... The Thai man can create smoke, and is being protected, while if it was the foreigner who did it, he would be fined as he committed a crime for air pollution and so... In my surroundings there are many wildfires by Thai farmers, but they are allowed. One day I made a wildfire and the police came and got me a warning and next he would fine me... Double standards...And I get angry when I read posts here like farang go home or lighting a barbeque.. I am wondering if all foreigners would do that what would become of Thailand.. This kind of people forget what is contributed to the economy by foreigners.. they forget that Thailand needs tourists, that are foreigners too... but stupidity can not be cured, but Thai people should be more welcoming.. This is a case that can cause real problems.

Sorry, but you are not as important as you think.

Good luck with that! 

3 hours ago, Trippy said:

Farang go home!

Or probably they just blame it all on free visa!

 

 

28 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

There are no laws for Thai people only for foreigners... This is an example... The Thai man can create smoke, and is being protected, while if it was the foreigner who did it, he would be fined as he committed a crime for air pollution and so... In my surroundings there are many wildfires by Thai farmers, but they are allowed. One day I made a wildfire and the police came and got me a warning and next he would fine me... Double standards...And I get angry when I read posts here like farang go home or lighting a barbeque.. I am wondering if all foreigners would do that what would become of Thailand.. This kind of people forget what is contributed to the economy by foreigners.. they forget that Thailand needs tourists, that are foreigners too... but stupidity can not be cured, but Thai people should be more welcoming.. This is a case that can cause real problems.

Thai people are very welcoming usually, but it is their country, their rules.

 

 

No way they should have charcoal burners near anyone's house.

 

Even where we are, where they burning anything and everything, the charcoal burners are way out in the rice fields.

7 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

Once you get outside of cities you need to be in full control of your immediate area so that means no tightly packed villages.

 

Per article:  where he lives about 1–2 kilometres from the nearest village.

 

Foreign dude buys 15 rai in the countryside and decides he wants the world to change for him.  

 

Farmer Sammy needs to sell his cattle and buy a couple hundred pigs.

 

The resolution here will be foreign dude paying Farmer Sammy 10 million for his two stinky rai.