Wat Tham Krabok authorities in Thailand’s Sarabury province have begun exhuming the remains of Hmong refugees that had been enterred in unofficial burial grounds around the temple, saying that the remains need to be removed so that the area can be cleaned up.

The temple’s head monk says the remains have affected the water sources that run through the burial grounds and have been used for drinking and washing by the temple residents and the villagers. He said the remains buried in the temple's cemetary will not be exhumed, adding that the excavated remains will be cremated beginning November 24th.

The excavation started on November 5th and will go on until Nov. 18th.

Listen to Thai-Hmong Remains report for details.