Human Rights Watch: Confront toxic legacy before reopening lead mines
The government has failed to remove toxic lead from a stream in Kanchanaburi province, which is threatening hundreds of families with serious health problems, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a report released yesterday.
The 32-page report, entitled “Toxic Water, Tainted Justice”, describes 16 years of failure by Pollution Control Department (PCD) and Public Health authorities to prevent ethnic Karen people in the Lower Klity Creek village from being exposed to lead poisoning. A 12-minute video accompanying the report highlights health and environmental damage caused by a now-defunct lead-processing factory, as well as efforts by local residents to seek justice.
On January 10, 2013, the Supreme Administrative Court ordered for Klity Creek to be cleaned up until test results show lead in water, soil, vegetables and aquatic life in and around the creek is below permissible levels. Though the clean up should have started by May 1, PCD says it is still studying measures, while villagers continue being exposed to lead in the environment.
“Thai authorities apparently believe they can ignore a court order to clean up the toxic site,” Richard Pearshouse, HRW senior researcher and author of the report, said. “This is one of the most heavily polluted industrial sites in all of Thailand, hundreds of people suffer harm, and it needs immediate government action.”
Despite the environmental damage, in 2011 the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry commissioned an environmental assessment of lead mines in Kanchanaburi province, raising the possibility of Thailand reopening and further developing lead mining and the lead industry.
“The Thai government seems to be ignoring lessons from the pollution of Klity Creek and the poisoning of villagers,” Pearshouse said. “Thailand should clean up Klity Creek and provide medical care to affected villagers before even thinking of expanding lead mining.
“The Thai government needs to stop ignoring the court order and set out a clear, defined plan with a specific timeline to comply,” he added.
“A thorough clean-up of Klity Creek could help Thailand create a model for cleaning up the many places where extreme industrial pollution damages human health.”
