Giòng sông Mekong mỗi ngày mỗi khô cạn dần

Water Politics Along Mekong

Thailand is in the midst of a bad drought, and some observers say international politics has made the crisis worse.

One of the areas affected in the country's north is Chiang Rai Province, which is situated in the Mekong River Basin.

Rice fields there are supposed to be covered with matured rice, but instead they're dry.

The drought is being blamed on the El Nino phenomenon, which has seen Thailand get less rain than usual.

"We have been unable to plant rice seedlings because we have no water," says one local farmer. "I've been working at construction sites."

Experts say the low rainfall isn't the only factor behind the drought. They suspect dams built by China on the upper reaches of the Mekong are also to blame.

Conservationists say the country has built 6 hydroelectric dams along the river in the past 20 years. They believe another dam is under construction. Experts attribute the unnatural fluctuation of the water level in the river to the storing and releasing of water at the dams.

Local residents are angry. They say the falling water level has had a big impact on their lives.

"The change in the water level is making the environment unfit for fishing," says Kmphai Bunmee, a local fisherman. "China's control of water is unacceptable."

Chinese officials announced they would release water from the dams for a limited period to help countries along the river hit by drought.

Following this, the water in the Mekong rose almost 1.5 meters in northern Thailand.

"Water is very important. We're happy our rice paddies have water now," a local farmer says.

Somkiat Khuenchiangsa, an official with the National Human Rights Committee of Thailand, says China is using the river to exert greater influence over the region.

"Releasing water is clearly not aimed at helping countries hit by drought. It's a move to increase China's influence in the ASEAN region," he says.

The Mekong is an indispensable part of people's lives in Thailand. Concern is rising over China's increasing control over it.

NHK/Paparorn Promlerd