A “Peace Walk for Rivers” dedicated to protecting six of the region’s major river systems entered its fourth consecutive day entering Thailand’s Chiang Rai Province on June 3. The 68-km pilgrimage aims to draw urgent attention to severe transboundary toxic pollution that has devastated local water supplies and indigenous livelihoods.
Hundreds of environmental activists, Buddhist monks, and members of various indigenous ethnic nationalities began the long journey by foot from Chiang Mai Province on May 31. By June 3, the marchers had crossed provincial lines, navigating the banks of the Kok River from Ban Ob Suea Waen into the indigenous Karen ethnic village of Ban Khwae Wua Dam.
The collective march is advocating for the protection of the Kok, Sai, Ruak, Mekong, Salween, and Kraburi rivers.
A Crisis of Contamination
According to local residents and environmental advocates, toxic runoff primarily driven by unregulated, irresponsible upstream mining operations operating across the border in Myanmar has plagued the river systems. The pollution has now entered its second consecutive year without any effective Thai government intervention, organizers told DVB.
The consequences on the ground have been severe. Riverbank residents report that during the dry season, the water from the Kok River has become so contaminated that it can no longer be safely used for drinking or agriculture. This has triggered a cascading crisis, devastating public health, crippling local agricultural economies, and damaging regional tourism.
“The Kok, Sai, Ruak, Mekong, and Salween rivers are the lifeblood of communities and civilizations,” said Phra Maha Nikhom Mahabhinikkhamano, the Assistant Abbot of Wat Tha Ton, during an afternoon public discussion on river contamination. “Rivers are like mothers who nurture life. Once they become contaminated, the damage can last for generations.”
Demands for a response
The afternoon assembly focused heavily on the unique vulnerabilities of marginalized ethnic communities living throughout the Mekong–Salween river basin. Speakers noted that these communities are bearing the brunt of industrial negligence from foreign mining operations.
In response, Phra Maha Nikhom urged the Thai government to look past localized environmental agencies and instead launch an aggressive, “whole-of-government” diplomatic response to directly confront the transboundary sources of the pollution.
“The priority is to address the source of the contamination: irresponsible mining activities upstream,” Phra Maha Nikhom emphasized. “Mining must be properly regulated and controlled. If pollution cannot be prevented, operations should be suspended until effective safeguards are in place.”
