Article written Transborder News
On Saturday 14th March artists from 11 countries staged a live performance along the Kok River near Chiang Rai, highlighting growing concern over toxic contamination linked to upstream mining in Myanmar and calling on authorities to address the crisis and restore the river.
The event took place on March 14 at the Kok River bank near Ban Pha Kwang School in Mae Yao subdistrict, Muang district, coinciding with the International Day of Action for Rivers, Water and Life. It formed part of the Chiang Rai International Performance Art Project 2026, bringing together international artists to communicate the environmental crisis affecting the river.
Organisers said the Kok River has been increasingly contaminated by toxic substances believed to originate from rare-earth and gold mining operations in upstream areas of southern Shan State, Myanmar.
The event featured performance art, with each participating artist presenting a piece centred on environmental themes and the condition of the river.
Satadru Sovan, an artist from India, said he felt deeply disturbed after witnessing the situation firsthand.
“I feel very saddened to see this river contaminated with toxic substances. It reminds me of my own country, where we also have a major river — the Ganges — facing chemical contamination that can cause cancer,” he said.
“The Kok River is also contaminated with arsenic and heavy metals that are known to cause cancer. Today the world is filled with industries that destroy the environment. It is heartbreaking to see nature being destroyed by powerful economic interests, and restoring it to its original state will be extremely difficult.”
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