Thai Deputy Interior Minister Orders Exhumation of Three Bodies from Jewish Cemetery

Thailand's Deputy Interior Minister, Pol. Lt. Gen. Paisal Chuenchup, has ordered local authorities to exhume three bodies from a Jewish cemetery in Chachoengsao province, citing the expiration of its operating license. The directive followed a visit to the Bang Kla cemetery on Monday, where the minister discovered the burials occurred after the license had lapsed without official notification.

According to the minister, one additional burial took place while the license was still valid, and this was deemed lawful. However, he instructed provincial officials to review relevant legislation and indicated that this grave might also be exhumed if any violations are found. The minister also mandated a broader inspection of cemetery licenses nationwide, including sites in Bangkok's Charoen Krung neighborhood, with findings expected within one to two days.

The cemetery operator applied for and received a license in 2021, which expired in 2023. A renewal request was denied after provincial authorities determined the site did not meet legal standards, including proximity requirements to roads and tunnels. An appeal to the former Interior Minister was also rejected, and the operator's subsequent appeal to the administrative court is ongoing.

Rabbi Nehemia Wilhelm of the Chabad House in Bangkok stated that the local Jewish community has operated a cemetery in Bangkok for nearly 30 years. Due to space limitations, a new plot outside the city was purchased about five years ago. He believes the current situation is linked to a recent wave of anti-Israeli and anti-Jewish sentiment in Thailand, suggesting authorities are scrutinizing Jewish sites. Rabbi Wilhelm affirmed the community's commitment to operating lawfully and adhering to Jewish law in any potential exhumation process.