Thai PM Tells Long-Stay Foreigners: Go Home to Die
Thailand's Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has told long-term foreign residents they are welcome to live in the kingdom, but should return home to die.
Speaking at a meeting with provincial governors, Anutin said he had learned of a request from foreigners to establish a private cemetery. "That is too much, it goes beyond all bounds," he said, according to the news portal Nation. "You should be grateful that we let you come here. Come to earn an honest living. If you are destined to die, go die in your own country. Don't die here. And don't try to exploit us."
The prime minister also said foreigners must not set up religious institutions or communities without official permission, citing cases where a restaurant licence was used to open a prayer house instead. He urged provincial governors to crack down on illegal activity by foreigners and on disrespect toward Thai traditions and people, and to make active use of an accelerated deportation mechanism he initiated, which has already taken effect.
Anutin stressed that Thailand welcomes foreigners but that cooperation must be mutually beneficial. Tourism brings money and investment, he said, but that gives no one the right to exploit others or to use investment for illegal activity, including the use of Thai citizens as nominees in business arrangements.
The remarks come amid heightened public attention in Thailand to foreign residents' conduct. In recent weeks, social media has circulated viral claims about disrespect for Thai culture and illegal activity by Israelis in the kingdom. Some Thai restaurants in tourist areas have posted signs barring Israeli entry, and demonstrations have been held in Bangkok and Phuket. Earlier this week, authorities removed a private Jewish cemetery established two years ago after its licence was not renewed; burials there were moved to an existing general cemetery. Most Thais are Buddhist and are cremated, so the country has few cemeteries, mostly Muslim and Chinese, along with several Christian and one Russian Orthodox burial ground.