Experts say cooperation needed to resolve border river pollution

(August 5) To resolve the cross-border river pollution problem caused by rare earth mining in the Myanmar-Thailand border region in the long term, it is crucial for experts, scientists, media, political leaders, and communities from both countries to cooperate, said Professor Malee Sitthikriengkrai from the Faculty of Social Sciences at Chiang Mai University. In response to Mizzima's questions, Professor Malee stated that cooperation from all sectors is necessary to halt rare earth mining activities. "We experts are collecting ground information. Scientists are also measuring and investigating the extent of the environmental impact," she said. She also pointed out the need for the media to promptly deliver the information they obtain to local residents and communities. Regarding political leaders, she said it is necessary for them to understand the damages faced by local people due to toxic pollution by seeing it on the ground, and protecting the people is the responsibility of political leaders. "Politicians are supposed to protect the public. They are not supposed to protect the mines," Professor Malee said. According to her, if mining operations are transparent and conducted in accordance with environmental standards, concerns from Thai social organizations and the international community would not arise. Furthermore, she urged political leaders to carefully consider and decide whose interests to prioritize and whose side to stand on. She warned that if the current problems continue to be ignored without action, natural water resources could be severely damaged within the next five to ten years, leading to long-term impacts on the entire ecosystem and the livelihoods of communities. "If we prioritize the mining industry solely because it brings good income, it will be like exchanging our environment and the future of coming generations," Professor Malee said. She stated that long-term development of the entire community can only be achieved by prioritizing environmental conservation and the good living standards of each individual, and it is important for national leaders to formulate and implement long-term visionary policies.