Thai Democrat Leader Urges Five Steps to Combat Cross-Border Water Pollution

Democrat Party leader Natthapong Rueangpanya posted on Facebook on August 3, 2025, that Prime Minister Anuthon Chanyaveerakul is set to meet Myanmar's senior general Min Aung Hlaing early this month. Myanmar is identified as the upstream source where gold mining operations have been releasing toxic substances into the Kha, Sai, Rhuak, Mekong, Salween, and Kra Buri rivers, causing significant hardship to downstream Thai communities. Although the meeting may not immediately resolve public suffering, Natthapong stated it marks an important milestone in addressing a cross-border water pollution crisis now entering its second year. He outlined five expected outcomes from the leaders' discussion: (1) Myanmar must acknowledge pollution data across all international waterways and clearly take responsibility for the problem and its causes; (2) upgraded cooperation mechanisms with transparent monitoring, investigation, and concrete solutions, as previous Thai-Myanmar working groups have achieved no tangible progress due to weak data-gathering and cooperation frameworks; (3) defined boundaries of mining zones that risk polluting all river sources to control and improve water quality under the mechanisms in point two; (4) Thailand should communicate mineral law and customs measures that will restrict Myanmar ore imports if pollution issues are not seriously addressed; and (5) joint agreement to escalate cross-border water pollution solutions at international forums including ASEAN and the Mekong River Commission. Natthapong urged the government to appoint the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister as the primary responsible official, with the Democrat Party to monitor progress quarterly. He also called on the Prime Minister to direct border-management protocols with Myanmar to prevent and suppress transnational crime including scams, drug trafficking, human trafficking, and smuggling.