Bangkok: "Phatraphong" has expressed concerns over the Thai-Myanmar agreement regarding the toxic river, criticizing the government for spending a year conducting inspections without addressing the root causes. According to Thai News Agency, Phatraphong has advised monitoring the agreement closely and raised questions about why the Thai government focused solely on water testing without tackling the source of pollution.
On August 3, 2026, Mr. Patarapong Leelaphat, MP for Chiang Mai Constituency 8 of the People's Party, highlighted issues with the draft Terms of Reference (TOR) designed to address transboundary contamination between Thailand and Myanmar. He pointed out that the draft fails to address the root cause of pollution and restricts Thailand's ability to disclose information about toxic substances, as this requires prior consent from both countries.
Mr. Phatthapong urged the government to recognize the importance of resolving the issue, warning against passing a draft agreement that limits transparency. He noted that residents along several rivers have been living with high levels of arsenic, lead, and cadmium in the water, awaiting progress in government negotiations with Myanmar.
The draft agreement has been criticized for several reasons. Firstly, it includes confidentiality provisions that prevent Thailand from disclosing test results without mutual consent. Secondly, the agreement focuses on measuring pollution without implementing measures to control it. Thirdly, it limits monitoring efforts to Chiang Rai province, excluding other affected areas and relevant agencies. Lastly, the draft relies on each country testing its own water resources independently, rather than jointly identifying pollution sources.
Mr. Phatarapong proposed four actions for the government to consider before the upcoming Cabinet meeting. These include ensuring transparent test result disclosures, implementing measures to address pollution sources, expanding monitoring beyond Chiang Rai, and drafting regulations to prevent Thailand from becoming a transit route for toxic minerals.
He emphasized that the issue was not caused by the Thai people and urged the government to prioritize their well-being over diplomatic considerations with Myanmar.