Local residents in northern Thailand have urged the Chinese government to address pollution affecting the Kok, Sai, Ruak and Mekong rivers, which they say has been caused by toxic waste from mining operations in Myanmar reportedly backed by Chinese investors.
Representatives of the People’s Network for the Protection of the Kok, Sai, Ruak and Mekong Rivers gathered outside the Chinese Consulate General in Chiang Mai on July 6, where they submitted a petition addressed to Chinese President Xi Jinping through a representative of the Chinese government.
The petition alleges that toxic heavy metals released from mining operations in Myanmar have contaminated the rivers, affecting agriculture, fisheries, tourism and the safety of drinking water supplies in northern Thailand.
According to the network, the pollution has affected approximately 110,000 hectares of rice fields, 60 fishing villages, more than 40,000 households in Chiang Rai, and over 120,000 people.
The group called on the Chinese government to investigate and hold accountable Chinese companies and investors operating overseas whose activities are causing environmental damage, and to end support for projects responsible for transboundary pollution.
It also urged authorities to trace the origins of antimony, tungsten, tin, lead, copper and manganese transported from Myanmar through Thailand to China. The network said the investigation should determine whether the minerals originated from mines linked to environmental destruction and disclose the findings publicly.
The petition further called on Chinese officials to meet with affected communities, announce a clear action plan through the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation framework, and establish a joint inspection mission involving relevant authorities to investigate mining sites in Myanmar.
According to the network, the inspection team should include representatives from Thailand as well as affected local communities, assess whether the mining operations comply with international environmental standards, and publicly release its findings.
The headwaters of the Kok and Sai rivers originate in Myanmar’s Shan State. The network said available information indicates that Chinese-speaking business operators are involved in mining activities in the area and that minerals extracted there are transported across the border into China. However, it noted that the ownership and licensing details of individual mining operations have not been independently verified.
The network warned that the river contamination is not solely a domestic issue for Thailand but a transboundary environmental and public health crisis that requires coordinated action by Myanmar, Thailand and China.
