Thai MPs Demand Diplomatic Action on Toxic Water Pollution
Thairath•Politics•
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Source: Thairath (Original)
Key Quotes
"The government's past measures have been ineffective reactive measures."
มาตรการของรัฐบาลที่ผ่านมาเป็นมาตรการเชิงรับที่ไม่มีประสิทธิผล
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs must lead in solving wastewater issues, not follow the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment."
กระทรวงการต่างประเทศต้องเป็นผู้นำแก้ปัญหาน้ำเสีย ไม่ใช่เดินตามกระทรวงทรัพยากรธรรมชาติและสิ่งแวดล้อม
"Negotiations are not necessarily with the Myanmar government, as they cannot access ethnic territories where polluting factories are located, but must speak directly with China."
การเจรจาไม่จำเป็นต้องทำกับรัฐบาลเมียนมา เพราะเข้าไม่ถึงการบริหารดินแดนกลุ่มชาติพันธุ์ที่โรงงานปล่อยน้ำปนเปื้อนตั้งอยู่ แต่ต้องพูดตรงกับฝ่ายจีน
Key Entities
Person
Phatraporn Leealapat(ภัทรพงษ์ ลีลาภัทร์)
Member of Parliament for Chiang Mai from the People's Party who is urging the government to use diplomatic measures to solve transboundary toxic pollution.
Pisal Manavapat(พิศาล มาณวพัฒน์)
Member of Parliament who is calling on the government to address transboundary toxic pollution and providing recommendations on diplomatic strategies.
Prime Minister(นายกฯ)
The head of government being urged by MPs to take action on transboundary toxic pollution.
Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the National Environment Board who has not commented on the transboundary toxic pollution issue.
Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, whose ministry's working group held its last follow-up meeting in April.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, who has not yet convened the international negotiation working group established last year and is advised to take a leading role in environmental diplomacy.
Organization
Shadow Cabinet(ครม. เงา)
A political body that convened and from which MPs Phatraporn Leealapat and Pisal Manavapat held a press conference.
National Environment Board(คณะกรรมการสิ่งแวดล้อมแห่งชาติ)
A committee that has met only once without discussing the transboundary toxic pollution issue.
Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment(กระทรวงทรัพยากรธรรมชาติและสิ่งแวดล้อม)
A ministry whose working group is tracking the follow-up on environmental issues and which is seen by some as not proactive enough in leading wastewater solutions.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs(กระทรวงการต่างประเทศ)
The ministry called upon to lead in solving wastewater issues using its geopolitical expertise and to negotiate with major countries and regional partners.
A regional organization where meetings are held, and which is mentioned in the context of potentially legitimizing the Myanmar government rather than solving direct environmental issues.
Place
Kok, Ruak, Mekong, Salween, and Kraburi Rivers(กก สาย รวก โขง สาละวิน และกระบุรี)
Six rivers in Thailand contaminated by toxic pollution from mining, affecting water, soil, fish, and human health.
Law
MOU 44
An agreement that the Minister of Foreign Affairs is advised not to focus solely on, but rather to engage in more impactful diplomatic solutions for transboundary pollution.
Mekong Sub-region Cooperation Framework(กรอบความร่วมมืออนุภูมิภาคแม่น้ำโขง)
A cooperation framework that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should utilize with countries like Japan, Australia, South Korea, and the UK to address environmental issues if China is unresponsive.