Unrest Hiding Beneath Stock Market Tranquility
In the scorching Thai countryside, the Kok River twists and shimmers on its journey through Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, before merging with the mighty Mekong. A once-reliable source of life and livelihood, the river now casts a shadow of fear over the local communities as tests have revealed alarming concentrations of toxic arsenic lurking beneath its surface.
In the peaceful village of Ban Huai Kum, Supin Kamjai, a weary-eyed 63-year-old farmer, gazes upon her limp vegetables. "We've stopped using river water", she says, her voice hollow. "But what good does that do now?" Her gnarled hands gesture towards the withered plants - a bounty that should have sustained her family for months.
Across the way, Boonchai Phanasawangwong, a vocal community rights advocate, shares her concerns. "Our children play in the river, and now they develop red, itchy rashes. Nobody has come to check on us."
The villagers' woes began to mount in late 2024, when the once-clear water turned murky in Ban Kwae Wua Dam. Sickness then spread to Huai Chomphu, as their crops wilted despite daily watering. By early 2025, laboratory tests confirmed their darkest fears: the river was contaminated with high levels of arsenic.
The arsenic concentrations were particularly high in Mae Ai district, Chiang Mai, reaching a shocking 0.026 milligrams per liter (mg/L) - more than double the safety standard of 0.01 mg/L. Lead was also found at concerning levels of 0.076 mg/L, surpassing the safe limit of 0.05 mg/L.
Addressing these alarming findings, Dr. Amporn Benjaponpitak, the Director-General of the Department of Health, acknowledged the presence of both arsenic and lead in the river, warning of the severe health risks posed by heavy metals. Symptoms can range from trivial skin rashes and diarrhea to destructive neurological disorders and skin cancer.
While the arsenic's origins remain unclear, the finger is pointed towards upstream mining activities in Myanmar's Shan State. Though unconfirmed, environmental groups and researchers point to 23 suspected gold mining sites operating without proper environmental impact assessments (EIAs). With each rain, sediment-laden runoff trickles down the hills, carrying dangerous heavy metals like arsenic and lead into the river system that crosses into Thailand.
Amid this growing crisis, Sen Cheewapap Cheewatham, Chairman of the Senate Natural Resources and Environment Committee, insists that satellite imagery shows the presence of mining operations in the upper reaches of the river in the Shan State of Myanmar. He urges action, warning of the risk of chemical contamination and the high probability of heavy metals being the culprits behind the Kok River's pollution.
Given the extent of the contamination, local tourism is suffering, particularly at the Karen Ruammit Elephant Camp, which was already battered by severe floods the previous year. "We lost 80% of our visitors after the arsenic news", said an elephant handler named Da. "No more bathing elephants in the river. No tourists, no income."
Opportunities for work are dwindling, as farmers like Supin resort to storing rainwater or digging shallow wells - though even these may not be safe. "I don't trust the well anymore", says Thanet Maneekorn, a 40-year-old farmer. "Nobody tells us if it's safe or not."
The growing apprehension and frustration culminated in a public outcry on April 30, as residents from 13 affected communities in Chiang Rai submitted a petition to the Chiang Rai governor. Demanding urgent action, the residents called for immediate water quality testing, transparent communication of test results, and a means to identify and resolve the root causes of the contamination.
Overwhelmed by the mounting pressure and scientific evidence of widespread contamination, the Thai government convened an emergency meeting on April 30. Chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong, the session brought together various Ministries to discuss the urgent situation and explore ways to cooperate with Myanmar to address the transboundary nature of the issue.
As the Kok River continues to flow, the battle to cleanse it of toxic arsenic is just beginning. While efforts are underway to address the contamination, the full extent of the cleanup remains uncertain, particularly given the need for cooperation from Myanmar. Unless action is taken swiftly, the locals' fear is that the river will remain tainted, casting a shadow over their future.
- Supin Kamjai's limp vegetables in Ban Huai Kum are a stark reminder of the river's contamination, as she now distrusts the water sources despite abandoning its use.
- Boonchai Phanasawangwong, a community rights advocate, echoes Supin's worries, fearing for the health of their children who play near the river.
- In late 2024, the villagers in Ban Kwae Wua Dam first noticed the murky waters, which then spread sickness to Huai Chomphu, causing their crops to wilt.
- Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of high levels of arsenic and lead in the river, with Mae Ai district in Chiang Mai reaching a shocking 0.026 milligrams per liter (mg/L) - an amount more than double the safety standard.
- The arsenic's origins are unclear, but environmental groups and researchers suspect upstream mining activities in Myanmar's Shan State, with 23 suspected gold mining sites operating without proper environmental impact assessments, as the potentially dangerous sediment-laden runoff seeps into the river system.
