Thai villagers in Samet Tai sub-district, in Bang Khla district of the eastern province of Chachoengsao, have voiced their opposition to the rumoured use of a plot of land as a cemetery for those of the Jewish faith and have demanded that local officials investigate and clarify the matter.
Namphueng Khamsa-ard, Kamnan (village chief) of the Samet Tai sub-district in Bang Khla district, told Thai PBS that the land in question, which is about 0.96 hectares, has been enclosed by a concrete wall since 2022. Since the wall was built, a rumour has been circulating among villagers that the land will be used as a cemetery (beit kvarot) for people of the Jewish faith.
Because of the four metre high wall, the general public has no access to the area and, therefore, have no direct knowledge of what the intended use of the land might be, besides the rumour that it is a cemetery.
Some villagers living near the plot reportedly initially thought the land was intended to be the site of a factory producing dried fruits.
It was not until 2024, when a rabbi was seen arriving at the site, accompanying the remains of a deceased person of the Jewish faith for burial, that more villagers began voicing their opposition, fearing that the cemetery may threaten the surrounding environment which includes the Ban Nong Som Hospital, a child care centre and several shrimp and fish farms.
Namphueng said that the villagers want to know whether the site will be used as a burial ground.
