The Governor of Chachoengsao clarified the issue regarding a Jewish cemetery covering about 6 rai in Samet Tai Subdistrict, Bang Khla District, affirming that the license was not renewed and that no bodies have been buried there; one body previously interred has since been relocated.
Following widespread recent reports about the Jewish community in Thailand planning to establish a new cemetery called the “New Jewish Cemetery” or JEWISH CEMETERY THAILAND, intended to accommodate a large number of Jewish burials—potentially around 1,200 graves—questions arose locally in Chachoengsao Province about the cemetery’s location and the feasibility of such operations.
On the evening of 2 September, reporters visited the site after learning it was located in Village 2, Samet Tai Subdistrict, Bang Khla District, Chachoengsao Province. Activity related to this site has been ongoing for over four years. During this visit, Namphueng Kamsaad, head of Samet Tai Subdistrict, along with Saowalak Panjaroen, Village Chief of Village 2, Kanlaya Srisawat, Village Chief of Village 5, Ekachai Sudnuch, assistant subdistrict headman, and local residents came to inspect whether there was any current activity, following a silence of more than two years.
Inspection revealed the site covers about 6 rai and 20 square wah, located alongside the road leading to the Samet Tai Child Development Center. It is fully enclosed by walls and fences, with a metal sheet gate firmly locked with chains and padlocks. The walls stand approximately 4 meters high from the water canal level, with an additional concrete wall inside, preventing outsiders from clearly seeing inside. Behind the area are natural water sources as well as shrimp and fish ponds. Inside, the land is mostly open with some grass coverage and two large blue tents.
Mrs. Lek, a 70-year-old resident living next to the cemetery fence, said she initially did not know the site would be used as a Jewish cemetery, believing it was a facility related to dried fruit processing. Around 2024, a van transporting a deceased person’s body without a coffin arrived near her home, and individuals came to request keys to open the cemetery gate, mistakenly thinking she was the caretaker because her house adjoins the cemetery fence. This made her realize the site was connected to foreign burials.
Mrs. Lek admitted that even with only one body buried, she felt fearful, especially at night, given the quiet surroundings. Previously, residents had united to oppose any burials or ceremonies at the site. Community leaders later informed them that the cemetery could not have its license renewed, which reassured residents who thought the matter was settled. However, recent online rumors claim that the Jewish cemetery in Bangkok is running out of space and might renovate the Chachoengsao site to accommodate about 1,200 graves, causing renewed concern. Locals worry about the natural water sources next to the cemetery, as some rely on these ponds and water sources for their shrimp and fish farming, fearing environmental or water quality impacts if many bodies were buried there.
Namphueng Kamsaad, head of Samet Tai Subdistrict, stated that the area began taking shape around 2022 with the construction of enclosing walls. At that time, locals were aware it was intended as a Jewish burial site and consistently opposed it, but no activity occurred beyond wall construction. In 2024, residents noticed movement involving transporting Jewish deceased bodies into the site, with clergy and bearded men dressed in traditional Jewish attire present, confirming the site’s use as a cemetery and prompting renewed community protests.
At that time, Maitri Traithilanun, then Governor of Chachoengsao, held a meeting in Bang Khla District. Residents submitted complaints, prompting an official site inspection. The province later announced that the license for this site could not be renewed, forwarding the matter to the Department of Provincial Administration for the Minister of Interior’s consideration. On 29 September 2025, the department informed that the Minister of Interior dismissed the appeal because it was submitted after the legal deadline. The province notified the appellant of the decision and their right to pursue administrative court action. Currently, the company’s representative is exercising legal rights through the Rayong Administrative Court. The matter then went quiet for over two years.
Recently, online posts and shares revived interest in this site, claiming the Jewish cemetery in Bangkok is insufficient in space and that this Chachoengsao site might be renovated to accommodate about 1,200 graves. This caused many local residents to seek updates from community leaders and Namphueng Kamsaad, amid growing concerns.
On the morning of 3 September, Dr. Kittipong Siluang, Mayor of Samet Tai Subdistrict Administrative Organization, said a private company originally applied to establish a cemetery with plans to begin burials in 2021. The local administration did not approve this at that time, coinciding with the mayor’s term ending in 2021, so no inspections occurred. Upon returning to office in 2022, the mayor noted the company brought valid provincial permits and began building the perimeter wall that year.
Between 2023 and 2024, the company moved deceased bodies into the cemetery, prompting strong local protests and the subsequent removal of those bodies. In 2026, rumors circulated about moving 1,200 bodies to this cemetery again, though the mayor was unaware of the source of these claims. He emphasized that if residents oppose, the administration cannot authorize the cemetery’s establishment.
Chatchapron Niyom, Governor of Chachoengsao Province, ordered all districts to conduct strict inspections regarding cemetery and crematorium operations following reports circulating on social media.
Investigations found an unlicensed cemetery in Samet Tai Subdistrict, Bang Khla District, named JEWISH CEMETERY THAILAND, operated by a Thai representative from Chonburi Province. The operator applied for a cemetery and crematorium license in 2021. In 2023, about 60 nearby residents protested at the site to prevent burials. At that time, the cemetery planned to proceed with burials as death certificates indicated burial at this Jewish cemetery. The site is near residential communities, frequently traversed public roads, a local school (Ban Nong Sano School), a health promotion hospital, a community hall, and agricultural areas including shrimp farms. Residents strongly opposed any cemetery construction here.
Bang Khla District officials inspected the site and found that construction began in November 2022 and completed in October 2023. Residents suspected that one body had been buried due to visible grave-like soil mounds near the fence, along with another dug rectangular pit left unfilled.
The cemetery location failed to meet legal criteria, including: 1) being adjacent to a public road used by residents; 2) presence of a public drainage canal that channels water to an irrigation canal during floods; 3) an irrigation pipe supplying water to local orchards; and 4) proximity to water sources on two sides. On 12 February 2024, a screening committee reviewed the license renewal application and unanimously decided the site did not meet the Ministry of Interior regulations (2000), hence should not have its license renewed.The site was deemed non-compliant with criteria and conditions and therefore the license renewal was rejected.The decision was formally communicated in writing to the authorized representatives, who were informed of their right to appeal to the Minister of Interior through Bang Khla District.
The company authorized a lawyer to appeal the administrative decision to the district officer. At that time, Chachoengsao Province instructed Bang Khla District to further verify facts, confirming that San Chang-Nong Sano Road is registered as a local highway and that the new canal is a public waterway used collectively by residents to drain floodwaters and supply water to farms and shrimp ponds. The land title for the requested cemetery area is divided into two plots, totaling 6 rai and 20 square wah. Chachoengsao Province agreed with Bang Khla District not to renew the license and forwarded the matter to the Department of Provincial Administration for the Minister of Interior’s consideration. On 29 September 2025,
The Department of Provincial Administration reported that the Minister of Interior had reviewed the matter and dismissed the appeal as it was submitted beyond the legal deadline. Chachoengsao Province notified the appellant of this decision and informed them of their right to file a lawsuit in the administrative court. Currently, the company’s representative is pursuing legal proceedings at the Rayong Administrative Court. The site has ceased operations, and Bang Khla District authorities confirmed that only one body had been buried there under the permit, which has since been removed.Currently, there are no bodies buried at the site.
The Governor has instructed district officers, subdistrict heads, and village chiefs to continuously monitor the situation and report immediately. The public is also urged to assist in surveillance within the community.