A “Save the Kok River” event was held at Tha Ton village in Mae Ai district, Chiang Mai Province of Thailand, on World Environment Day June 5. Thai residents protested against mining and deforestation along the Kok River in eastern Shan State, which flows from Myanmar into northern Thailand’s Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai provinces.
“Today, we are gathering in order to save the river. As you can see, it’s contaminated by the mine up north from [Myanmar]. And that’s why we are here today. To [say] to the authorities or to the Prime Minister [Paetongtarn Shinawatra] or whoever is in charge to please come and take a look,” Kanphong Prayoonsak, a Thai member of Parliament from the People’s Party, told DVB.
The Kok River has elevated levels of arsenic, which exceeds safety standards, according to environmentalists. Rare earth mining operations have been reported in Mong Yawn, which is the easternmost township of Shan State. The Kok River flows from Mong Yawn to Mong Hsat Township, which is located along the Myanmar-Thailand border and is under the control of the United Wa State Army (UWSA).
