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People's network to expose Myanmar's illegal mines causing cross-border pollution

People's network to expose Myanmar's illegal mines causing cross-border pollution

MGR Online•Society•11h ago

Reader Briefing

A network of citizens is organizing a series of events to pressure the Thai government to address cross-border pollution caused by illegal mining operations in Myanmar.

  • •A network of citizens is protesting cross-border pollution originating from illegal mines in Myanmar, affecting water, soil, and food in Thailand.
  • •Events include a 'ธรรมยาตรา' (religious pilgrimage) and public forums from May 31 to June 5, 2026, culminating in a river procession and petition submission.
  • •The network is calling for the Prime Minister and several ministers to address the issue, which has been ongoing for a year and is worsening.
  • •Concerns are raised about heavy metal accumulation in local water sources and agricultural produce, impacting over 40,000 households.

Overview

  • •From May 31 to June 5, 2026, a series of environmental protection activities will take place in Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai.
  • •A 'ธรรมยาตรา' (religious pilgrimage) will walk along the Kok River from Mae Ai District, Chiang Mai, to Mueang District, Chiang Rai.
  • •Dr. Suebsakul Kijnoochkorn stated that current provincial monitoring for heavy metals shows increasing accumulation, requiring Prime Ministerial intervention.
  • •On June 5, 2026, approximately 2,000 people are expected to join a procession to the Chiang Rai Provincial Hall to submit a petition.
  • •The protests are due to illegal mining in Myanmar causing cross-border pollution impacting water, sediment, plants, fish, and tap water.
  • •Over 40,000 households in the Kok River basin rely on potentially contaminated water, with an additional 100,000 rai of farmland at risk.
  • •Mr. Somkiat Khuan Chiangsa called for government compensation for public damages over the past year due to unresolved pollution issues.
  • •Thailand's Minister of Foreign Affairs previously informed Myanmar about the mining issue, but Myanmar cited inaccessibility and refusal to share data with the Mekong River Commission.

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Key Quotes

Dr. Suebsakul Kijnoochkorn
"On April 10, 2026, the Prime Minister stated in parliament that many security threats relate to border areas, including illegal mining in neighboring countries. On April 20, 2026, in Chiang Mai, it was reiterated that cross-border contamination issues must be resolved."
‘10 เม.ย.2026 นายกรัฐนตรีได้แถลงนโยบายต่อรัฐสภาว่ามีปัญหาภัยความมั่นคงหลายอย่างที่เกี่ยวข้องกับพื้นที่ชายแดนและข้ามแดนโดยหนึ่งในนั้นคือการทำเหมืองเถื่อนในประเทศเพื่อนบ้าน ต่อมาวันที่ 20 เม.ย.2026 ที่เชียงใหม่ ก็บอกอีกว่าจะต้องแก้ไขปัญหาปนเปื้อนข้ามพรมแดนด้วย
Dr. Suebsakul Kijnoochkorn
"Chiang Rai has established a provincial committee to monitor heavy metals in rivers, sediment, plants, agricultural soil, fish, and tap water for a year, finding increasing accumulation. It's time for the Prime Minister to join in finding a solution."
ตอนนี้เชียงราย มีการตั้งคณะกรรมการร่วมระดับจังหวัด ตรวจสอบเฝ้าระวังสารโลหะหนักทั้งในแม่น้ำ ตะกอนดิน พืชผัก ดินการเกษตร ปลา และน้ำประปา เป็นเวลาครบ 1 ปี ซึ่งพบกำลังมีการสะสมหมักหมมมากขึ้น จึงถึงเวลาที่นายกรัฐมนตรีจะต้องมาร่วมหาทางออกร่วมกัน
Mr. Somkiat Khuan Chiangsa
"As a government that cannot solve the problem, it must take responsibility by compensating the public for damages incurred over the past year."
ในฐานะรัฐบาลที่ยังแก้ไขปัญหาไม่ได้ ต้องแสดงความรับผิดชอบด้วยการชดใช้ความเสียหายต่อภาคประชาชนในรอบ 1 ปีที่ผ่านมาด้วย

Key Entities

Organization

People's Network for the Protection of the Kok, Ruak, Mekong, Salween, and Kraburi Rivers(เครือข่าย ปชช.ปกป้องแม่น้ำกก สาย รวก โขง สาละวิน และกระบุรี)
A network of citizens advocating for the protection of several major river systems in Thailand against cross-border pollution.
Mae Fah Luang University(มหาวิทยาลัยแม่ฟ้าหลวง)ℹ️
University where Dr. Suebsakul Kijnoochkorn is an academic, contributing expertise to the environmental pollution discussion.
Mekong River Commission (MRC)(คณะกรรมาธิการแม่น้ำโขง (MRC))ℹ️
An intergovernmental agency focused on sustainable development of the Mekong River, from which Myanmar has refused to share data regarding mining.
Mae Yao Subdistrict Municipality(เทศบาล ต.แม่ยาว)
Local administrative body in Mae Yao Subdistrict, from where the river procession on the Kok River will begin to the Provincial Hall.
Provincial Waterworks Authority(การประปาส่วนภูมิภาค)
Government agency responsible for water supply in rural areas, which oversees the tap water systems in the Kok River basin.
Wa(ว้า)
An armed ethnic minority group whose territory in the Myanmar border region with Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai is inaccessible for mining regulation.
Karenni(คะเรนนี)
An armed ethnic minority group whose territory in the Myanmar border region with Mae Hong Son is inaccessible for mining regulation.

Person

Anutin Charnvirakul(อนุทิน ชาญวีรกุล)ℹ️
Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of Thailand, called upon to address cross-border pollution from Myanmar's illegal mines.
Minister of Finance(รมว.คลัง)
Minister of Finance, requested to address the issue due to the export of minerals from Myanmar through Thai borders to China.
Minister of Foreign Affairs(รมว.ตปท.)
Minister of Foreign Affairs, relevant due to previous discussions with Myanmar's leader regarding border and mining issues.
Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives(รมว.เกษตร)
Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, requested to address the impact of pollution on over 100,000 rai of farmland.
Minister of Natural Resources and Environment(รมว.ทรัพย์)
Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, directly involved in addressing environmental pollution issues.
Dr. Suebsakul Kijnoochkorn(ดร.สืบสกุล กิจนุกรณ์)
Academic from Mae Fah Luang University, speaking out about the escalating heavy metal contamination and calling for government action.
Ajarn Niwat Roikaew(อาจารย์นิวัฒน์ ร้อยแก้ว)
President of the Rak Chiang Khong Group, emphasizing the urgency of cross-border river pollution issues.
Mr. Somkiat Khuan Chiangsa(นายสมเกียรติ เขื่อนเชียงสา)
Director of the Life Rivers Association, representing the public and demanding government responsibility and compensation for pollution damages.
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing(พลเอกอาวุโส มิน อ่องหล่าย)ℹ️
President of Myanmar, met with Thai Minister of Foreign Affairs in April 2026, who was informed about the mining issue.
Governor of Chiang Rai Province(ผู้ว่าราชการจังหวัดเชียงราย)
Provincial leader responsible for local administration, to whom a petition will be submitted at the Provincial Hall.
Members of Parliament and Senators from Chiang Rai Province(ส.ส. และ ส.ว. ชาว จ.เชียงราย)
Elected representatives from Chiang Rai who will receive a petition from the people's network to forward to the Prime Minister.

Place

Chiang Rai(เชียงราย)ℹ️
Province in Thailand significantly impacted by cross-border pollution from Myanmar, where protests and events are planned.
Mae Ai(แม่อาย)ℹ️
District in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand, from where the 'ธรรมยาตรา' and river protection activities will commence.
Contemporary Art Museum (Khua Silpa)(พิพิธภัณฑ์ศิลปะร่วมสมัย (ขัวศิลปะ))
Location in Mueang District, Chiang Rai, where the press conference for the environmental protest was held.
Tha Ton Subdistrict(ต.ท่าตอน)
Subdistrict in Mae Ai District, Chiang Mai, marking the starting point for the river protection activities.
Kok River(แม่น้ำกก)ℹ️
A major river in northern Thailand that is a focus of pollution concerns and the planned 'ธรรมยาตรา' and river procession.
Myanmar(ประเทศเมียนมา)ℹ️
Country adjacent to Thailand, where illegal mining operations are causing cross-border pollution affecting Thai provinces.
Mae Lao River(แม่น้ำลาว)
A river proposed as an alternative water source for tap water in Chiang Rai, with a budget of 2,000 million THB requested for its development.
China(จีน)ℹ️
Country receiving mineral exports from Myanmar through Thai border crossings, making the Minister of Finance relevant to the issue.

Law

Heavy metals(สารโลหะหนัก)
A type of pollutant being monitored in water and soil in Chiang Rai due to mining activities, found to be accumulating.
Tap water(น้ำประปา)
A crucial resource for households in the Kok River basin that has been found to be contaminated, necessitating alternative solutions like the Mae Lao river.