Post by : Badri Ariffin

For many years, the Kok River has been essential for farmers in northern Thailand, nourishing crops such as pumpkins, garlic, corn, and okra. However, the once-vibrant river is now emblematic of an escalating environmental issue.

Tip Kamlue, a 59-year-old farmer from Tha Ton, reminisces about a lifetime spent using the Kok's water to irrigate her fields. Since April, local authorities have advised against using river water due to contamination, compelling Tip and her fellow farmers to depend on groundwater. “It’s like half of me has died,” she said, staring at the river she no longer trusts.

Recent studies have highlighted the magnitude of the danger. More than 2,400 mines throughout mainland Southeast Asia, many of them unregulated or illegal, are believed to be discharging toxic substances, including cyanide and mercury, into waterways. Research conducted by the U.S.-based Stimson Center revealed through satellite imagery the existence of hundreds of mining sites, including those for gold, nickel, copper, manganese, and rare earth elements, discharging waste into the Mekong basin.

The Mekong, Asia’s third-largest river, provides sustenance for over 70 million individuals and is vital for the region's food exports. Once considered a pristine water source, the basin faces growing threats due to inadequate environmental regulations and enforcement, according to researchers.

Particular alarm has been raised about new rare earth mining operations in eastern Myanmar, close to the Thai border. Testing in the Kok River has revealed increased levels of arsenic and heavy rare earth elements, such as dysprosium and terbium, commonly associated with gold and rare earth mining. This contamination is linked to activities that support China's production of magnets used in electric vehicles, wind turbines, and defense technologies.

Local farmers are increasingly worried. Signs calling for the closure of mines are still displayed over bridges in Tha Ton, serving as a poignant reminder of the community's fight to revive a once-prosperous river. Tip Kamlue encapsulates the farmers' aspirations: “I just want the Kok River to be what it used to be — a place where we could eat from it, bathe in it, play in it, and use it for farming.”

#world news #Global News