Joint working group to be formed to resolve river pollution on Thailand-Myanmar border

(August 7) Mizzima. || Thailand and Myanmar have signed a Terms of Reference (TOR) to establish a joint working group for the management of water quality in border and transboundary rivers that have become polluted due to illegal gold and rare earth mining in Shan State. According to a report by Thai PBS World on August 7, the agreement aims to jointly address water pollution problems caused by arsenic and other toxic metals in rivers, including the Sai River and Kok River, along the Thailand-Myanmar border. Ravieewan Bhuridej, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, who signed the TOR on behalf of the Thai government, said the agreement is an important step in addressing the unresolved transboundary pollution problem between the two countries. However, he admitted that there may be difficulties in cooperation as the Myanmar government does not have full control over the entire Shan State. The Thai side pointed out that many groups, including ethnic armed organizations, control territories within Shan State, with the influence of the United Wa State Army (UWSA) being particularly significant. Under the agreement, the joint working group will operate for three years and will conduct water quality monitoring, information sharing, and technical cooperation. Furthermore, the group will also study and address health problems of those affected by pollution, and there is no restriction on the participation of technical experts from third countries, Ravieewan said. The Thai government expects to be able to form the joint working group within this month. Concerns have been rising in recent years over water pollution related to mining activities in Shan State affecting the Kok and Sai rivers on the Thailand-Myanmar border. Environmental groups have warned of potential impacts on the health and agricultural activities of communities in northern Thailand, particularly due to the presence of arsenic and other metal toxins. While this Thai-Myanmar cooperation is an attempt to address the transboundary environmental problem at the government-to-government level, the complex power dynamics within Shan State may pose a major challenge to its implementation. On the other hand, broader discussions involving regional controllers, local communities, and civil society groups are still needed to address mining activities, resource utilization, and the impact on the health of local people. Reference – Thai PBS World The post Joint working group to be formed to resolve river pollution on Thailand-Myanmar border appeared first on BUR.MIZZIMA.COM.