CHIANG RAI – On Sunday, May 31, 2026, more than a thousand monks, students, and residents gathered at the Tha Ton bridge in Chiang Mai province. They united for a single, urgent cause: saving their waterways.
The event, called the “Dhammayatra” (a peaceful spiritual walk), was launched to protect cross-border rivers from severe pollution linked to illegal mining upstream.
According to a news report by Naewna, the march was organized by the People’s Network for the Protection of the Kok, Ruak, Mekong, and Salween Rivers, alongside local government bodies. The 60-kilometer journey started in Mae Ai district, Chiang Mai, and will conclude in the city of Chiang Rai on June 5.
The walk began on Visakha Bucha Day, one of Buddhism’s most sacred holidays. Organizers chose this day to highlight that protecting nature is deeply tied to spiritual beliefs. Humans, they noted, are just one part of nature, and defending the environment is everyone’s duty.
Phra Maha Nikom Mahaphinikkhamano, a senior monk representing the district, delivered an opening message. He explained that rivers are the mothers of all living things. “Walking with our feet might seem like an ordinary act, but our feet carry us to a higher purpose,” he said. He stressed that the region’s major rivers are facing a massive crisis. He asked everyone to use their patience and effort to walk together and bring relief to the suffering communities.
The Hidden Danger in the River Water
For more than a year, people living along these river basins have faced a terrifying reality. Tests have revealed high levels of heavy metals, including arsenic, in the water.
This crisis is entirely man-made. It stems from illegal rare earth mining operations in neighboring countries. These mines often run without any environmental safety rules, allowing toxic waste to flow freely into the rivers that eventually cross into Thailand. Rare earth minerals are highly valuable and are used to make modern electronics, but extracting them without care causes massive environmental damage.
The ongoing pollution has severely damaged local communities. Here is how the toxic water is changing daily life:
- Health Fears: Villagers no longer trust the water. They are afraid to use it for drinking, bathing, or growing crops.
- Economic Loss: Tourism, a vital source of income for these river towns, has dropped sharply because visitors are scared of the contaminated water.
- Ecosystem Collapse: The toxic runoff threatens fish populations, local wildlife, and the natural balance of the rivers.
Boonrot Kongkaew, the mayor of Tha Ton, stated that the situation has not improved despite a year of warnings. “We want the authorities to fix the problem at its root,” he explained. “The mines need proper, lawful systems. They cannot just dump poison into the river. We need real solutions at the source, not just reactions after the damage is done.”
Demanding Accountability from Supply Chains
The march has attracted voices from all levels of society, from local villagers to national environmental experts.
Tuenjai Deetes, a former senator from Chiang Rai, delivered a strong message during the event’s opening. She pointed out that illegal rare earth mining is spreading rapidly across upstream areas, causing cross-border pollution in at least six major rivers.
She called on global supply chains to take responsibility. She hopes the sheer power of this peaceful march will force the governments and companies involved in buying these minerals to realize the destruction they are funding.
Saengrawee Suweerakan, Vice President of the Rom Pho Foundation, estimates that up to 4,000 people will join the walk before it ends. “The river is the life and hope of the people,” she noted. “Protecting the river means protecting our lives.”
The organizers are using the 60-kilometer route to listen to the struggles of everyday villagers. They plan to collect these stories and complaints to send directly to the national government.
A Regional Crisis Needs a Regional Fix
Niwat Roikaew, President of the Chiang Khong Conservation Group, called the march a historic day for the people of the river basins. He specifically called on Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to step in, urging the leader to come down and listen to the locals in person.
“Our united hearts will create a massive power for change, ensuring our children can have clean rivers again,” Niwat said. “This is no longer just a local issue. It is a crisis for the entire region.”
Because rivers flow across borders, the toxic chemicals do as well. Nitipon Saengsuwan, the Mae Ai District Chief, reminded the crowd that fixing this issue requires teamwork from multiple countries and agencies. It is not something one single province can solve alone.
The Dhammayatra march is a clear warning to leaders. The people of northern Thailand refuse to sit quietly while their water is poisoned. As their march continues toward Chiang Rai, their demand remains simple: clean the water, regulate the mines, and put human lives ahead of industrial profit.
