Pollution from Mines in Myanmar Threatens Thai Agriculture Along Kok River

Post by : Bianca Suleiman

For generations, the Kok River has served as a vital resource for farmers in northern Thailand, fostering crops like pumpkins, garlic, corn, and okra. Today, this once-pure river has transformed into a warning sign of a grave environmental crisis.

Tip Kamlue, a 59-year-old farmer in Tha Ton, recalls the days when she could irrigate her land with the Kok's waters. Since April, warnings from authorities have urged residents to avoid using river water due to contamination, leaving farmers like Tip and her neighbors dependent on groundwater. “It feels like part of me is gone,” she expressed, staring at the river she can no longer trust.

Recent studies highlight the severity of the issue. More than 2,400 mines throughout mainland Southeast Asia, many operating illegally or without regulation, are believed to be discharging harmful substances such as cyanide and mercury into local waterways. Research by the U.S.-based Stimson Center, using satellite imagery, has identified numerous mining sites—ranging from gold to rare earth elements—that are draining into the Mekong basin.

The Mekong River, the third largest in Asia, sustains over 70 million people and is vital for the region's food supply. Once viewed as a pristine waterway, the basin is now increasingly vulnerable due to insufficient enforcement of environmental protections.

Concern is particularly heightened due to new rare earth mining activities in eastern Myanmar, close to Thailand's border. Tests conducted on the Kok River have revealed concerning levels of arsenic and rare earth elements like dysprosium and terbium, usually associated with gold and rare earth mining operations. This pollution is connected to the mining activities that support China’s production of magnets utilized in electric vehicles and renewable energy technologies.

Local farmers are feeling the pressure. Banners calling for the closure of the mines continue to hang over the bridges in Tha Ton, stark reminders of the community's fight to revitalize a river once brimming with life. Tip Kamlue reflects the farmers’ shared wish: “I long for the Kok River to return to its former beauty—where we could eat, bathe, play, and farm using its waters.”