Protest to be held in Thailand over river pollution caused by Myanmar's mining activities

(August 1) Mizzima. -- A protest demanding accountability for the pollution of rivers flowing across the border due to rare earth and mining activities on the Myanmar side will be held on August 3 in front of the Myanmar Consulate in Chiang Mai, Thailand, Save the Kok River announced. It is also known that a "People's Opinion Letter" addressed to Myanmar's military leader Min Aung Hlaing will be read out during the protest. Min Aung Hlaing is scheduled to visit Thailand on August 6 and 7. Save the Kok River has pointed out that the pollution of rivers flowing across the border could affect the health and livelihoods of local people in Thailand. At the August 3 protest, the pollution of five major rivers flowing across the border, including the Mekong River and the Nam Khok River, will be depicted, and environmental activists and the public are invited to participate. The organization also held a similar protest in front of the Chinese Consulate in Chiang Mai on July 6. At that time, they attempted to submit a sample of water suspected to be poisoned from the Nam Khok River and a public statement to the Chinese Consulate. Furthermore, regarding river pollution, they issued four demands, including that China investigate mining activities on the Myanmar side and that a joint investigation team involving relevant parties from Thailand be formed quickly. Dispute over cross-border river pollution Local residents and environmental groups have repeatedly pointed out that water pollution is occurring in the Kokang, Nam Khok, and other rivers flowing through eastern Shan State in Myanmar and northern Thailand, due to waste discharged from mining activities. Environmental activists have warned that toxic chemicals could enter the river water due to rare earth mining activities, and have demanded joint investigations on both sides of the border. As this protest is to be held before Min Aung Hlaing's visit to Thailand, it is being viewed as a form of pressure on Myanmar's mining activities and cross-border environmental issues. The post Protest to be held in Thailand over river pollution caused by Myanmar's mining activities appeared first on BUR.MIZZIMA.COM.