The Shan Human Rights Foundation has reported that rare earth mining operations in the Mine Yawn area south of Mong Hsat, jointly controlled by the Myanmar military and the United Wa State Army (UWSA), pose a severe health risk to over one million residents along the Thai-Myanmar border. Satellite imagery has revealed two rare earth mining sites located just 25 kilometers from the Thai border, with waste materials contaminating water sources flowing into the Nam Khok River. These mining operations mirror the pattern of Chinese companies’ extraction methods in Kachin State, where large amounts of terbium and dysprosium are being mined using circular processing pools.
The mining technique employed is the environmentally destructive in-situ leaching method, which involves drilling holes into mountains and injecting chemical solutions to extract rare earth elements. This process has been documented to cause severe environmental damage, including groundwater contamination, death of aquatic life and wildlife, destruction of vegetation, and increased risks of cancer and kidney diseases among human populations. Current testing has already detected elevated levels of arsenic in the Nam Khok River on the Thai side. The river flows through Mae Ai district in Chiang Mai province and Chiang Rai province before joining the Mekong River at Chiang Saen, potentially affecting a vast area.
The Shan Human Rights Foundation has emphasized the urgent need for authorities from both countries to investigate these cross-border impacts and calls for full public disclosure of information related to the mining operations. The situation is particularly concerning as it compounds existing pollution from gold mining in the region. The foundation is currently working with partner organizations in Thailand to raise awareness about these environmental threats among Thai authorities. The Mine Yawn area, where these rare earth mines are located, remains under the joint control of the Myanmar military council and the UWSA, making independent monitoring and environmental protection measures difficult to implement.
