CHIANG RAI – The Community Rights Network, together with a coalition of groups working to protect the Kok, Sai, Ruak, Mekong, and Salween rivers, have file a petition backed by more than 200 people.
They have called on the new government to act fast on a growing heavy-metal contamination crisis in major northern river basins. The network says mining activity in Myanmar is driving serious health and environmental harm in Thailand.
At the center of the petition is one clear claim: heavy-metal pollution comes from mining operations in Myanmar, and Thailand is being used as a transit route to move ore to China through Chiang Rai border checkpoints.
The group argues that across two governments and a full year, the state has not shown real commitment to solving contamination in the Kok, Sai, Ruak, Mekong, and Salween basins, even as impacts spread through riverside communities.
The network also criticized how agencies rely on environmental “safety standards” without facing the bigger risk, long-term exposure. People can take in toxins over time through water, fish, crops, and other local foods. Even when short-term readings look acceptable, repeated intake can build up in the body and show up later as chronic illness.
Because this pollution crosses borders, the statement urges the government to change how it treats the problem. The group says toxic buildup is a silent threat, and many residents feel like they are “dying in slow motion” while clear, complete safety information remains hard to access.
It also affects public health, household income, local food systems, and Thailand’s long-term resource security. For that reason, they want a response that is serious, transparent, and open to public participation.
What the Chiang Rai Community Network wants from the new government
The coalition says the government should move immediately. Their main message is simple: negotiate, shut down the source, stop ore linked to contamination, and protect people who live along the rivers.
They proposed these steps:
- Stop ore imports and cancel the MOU tied to ore transit. They want urgent talks aimed at closing mines linked to the contamination and ending agreements that enable imports and cross-border transport.
- Set up real compensation and recovery support. The network calls for a clear, practical system to compensate and assist affected residents.
- Increase monitoring of water and community health. They want stronger testing for water quality and health screening in high-risk areas, with ongoing follow-up.
- Be transparent and involve the public. The government should share safety information directly and completely, and create space for all sectors to take part in decision-making.
The statement sums up the situation in blunt terms: “China gets the ore, Myanmar and Wa groups get the money, Thailand gets the poison.”
The Chiang Rai network and community allies also said they are preparing activities for World Water Day on March 22, 2026. Plans include a traditional river blessing ceremony for the Kok River and the submission of their policy proposals to the new government as they continue pushing for solutions.
