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Civic groups call for China to take action over Myanmar mining

10 Sept 20:51 Key points summarised by AI

Thai civic groups in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai protested against the unregulated discharge of heavy metals and toxic chemicals into the Mekong River, directly accusing Chinese-funded mining firms operating in Myanmar.
Protesters highlighted severe consequences, including health risks for communities, threats to aquatic life, and significant loss of livelihoods for fishermen and tourism businesses along the river.
A letter was submitted to the Chinese Consulate General, urging President Xi Jinping to regulate, inspect, and take action against polluting Chinese-owned or Chinese-funded mining companies.
The groups also called on Beijing to trace metal origins imported via Thailand and to send a delegation to inspect Myanmar mining operations for compliance with international environmental standards, making findings public.
The protest reminded the Chinese government of its previous pledges, made since June 8 last year, to address pollution and utilize the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) framework to protect the river's ecosystem.

Today 14:58 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's government will launch the "Chainat-Pasak-Gulf" water diversion canal project in fiscal year 2027, a seven-year mega-infrastructure initiative.
This permanent structural solution aims to mitigate recurrent central plains flooding by diverting water from the Chao Phraya River directly into the Gulf of Thailand, significantly reducing flow to major cities like Ayutthaya and Bangkok.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul justifies the long-term investment as a means to reduce future damages and fiscal burdens, contrasting it with the 40-50 billion baht spent annually on short-term flood relief.
Concurrently, the Prime Minister instructed officials to expand drainage capacity into the Tha Chin River and swiftly remove water hyacinths to improve immediate flood management.