Unlicensed Myanmar Mines Blamed for Arsenic in Thailand's Kok River

TaiwanPlus News

Thailand says mines in Myanmar are leaching toxic water downstream into the Kok River which runs between the two countries. That's after alarmingly high levels of arsenic were discovered in the river. But as Myanmar remains embroiled in civil war and the mines in question are not under the control of the junta, finding a solution isn't simple...

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00:00These fishers on the Kok River in Thailand are collecting water samples for testing,

00:07following the discovery of abnormally high arsenic levels in the orange waters.

00:12Thai locals and officials say the culprit is mines like these just across the border,

00:17in the hills of Myanmar. They're among a dozen that have popped up in recent years in Shan State,

00:22and authorities say they are washing toxic waste downstream into Thailand,

00:26causing serious damage to the environment.

00:29This is the kind of environmental damage that you might only see once in a lifetime.

00:36It's so serious that now I can only stand and look at the river. I don't dare go into the water anymore.

00:42The river, which originates in Myanmar, is a key resource for thousands in Thailand,

00:47and is a tributary of Asia's third longest river, the Mekong.

00:52But recent tests of its water found levels of arsenic nearly five times those of international drinking water standards.

00:58And while experts say the effects of toxic waste on human health wouldn't be visible immediately,

01:04fears are already taking a toll on local business.

01:07We're catching a lot of fish now because it's spawning season.

01:13Before, we sold them to middlemen and made good money.

01:16But now there's a problem because some people say there's arsenic. I don't want to eat that fish.

01:22But despite pleas for government action, saving the river remains a challenge.

01:27The mines in question are believed to be run by Chinese companies,

01:30operating in a territory controlled by one of Myanmar's largest ethnic groups, unlicensed and unregulated.

01:37As Myanmar remains embroiled in civil war, Bangkok knows Myanmar's junta may be unable to intervene.

01:44But that isn't stopping protesters here in Chiang Rai, who say there could be a way to resolve the pollution issue,

01:53with urgent cooperation.

02:12Now, fishers have no choice but to carry on casting their nets in toxic waters.

02:17Still, campaigners say the river isn't beyond saving yet.

02:21And though fears over its water might echo for years to come,

02:25hope remains that cross-border collaboration can help rewrite its long-term fate.

02:30James Lin and Izzy Wells for Taiwan Plus.

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