Thai opposition presents cross-border water pollution evidence to the Chinese Embassy

The Thai People's Party has submitted scientific evidence regarding cross-border water pollution, suspected to originate from mining activities in a neighboring country, to the Chinese Embassy. Party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut and Chiang Mai MP Pattharapong Leelaphat made an official request for Beijing to investigate the issue and intervene at the source of the pollution. The Chinese Ambassador to Bangkok pledged to transmit all the documents and data presented to them directly to the Chinese government.

The submitted file included test results from the Thailand Pollution Control Department and research by Thanapol Penrat from Naresuan University. The evidence shows excessive amounts of arsenic and lead in the Kok, Sai, Ruak, Mekong, and Salween rivers, as well as the Kraburi River, indicating that the pollution has spread into the food chain, from fish in the rivers to vegetables. Additionally, the file shared the coordinates of 2,676 mining sites so that Chinese authorities can determine whether they are involved in operations in the region.

The People's Party is calling for cooperation from all relevant governments rather than accusing a specific company or country. The party emphasized that treating wastewater at operating mines to prevent the spread of pollution would cost only 5 to 20 Baht per cubic meter, but interventions after the pollution reaches the river would be thousands of times more expensive or could become impossible.