News
Mekong record low raises hydropower questions
An elderly fisherman anchored his small boat to the bank of the Mekong in north-eastern Thailand. Inside lay his morning catch of three fat barbs. “We can catch plenty of fish,” said Thong-in Wenkham with a thin smile, “It’s easy for us when the water level is low like this. “I ...
Pratch Rujivanarom
Vietnam says 'urgent measures' needed to combat Mekong Delta erosion
Six provinces in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta region have been scrambling to battle the severe erosion of the sprawling river and coastal network, with some areas now requiring “urgent measures”, state media said on Tuesday. The provinces, Long An, An Giang, Dong Thap, Ben Tre, Soc Trang ...
Thai NGOs Speak Out Against Proposed Dam in Laos
A new dam planned for construction on the Mekong River in Laos is causing great concern for environmental NGOs from Thailand, who say Laos’ fifth big dam on the river will have adverse effects on fish and people in the region. The Luangprabang hydropower project would ...
Cambodia's lifeline threatened as Mekong recedes to historic low
As world leaders meet in New York from Monday to discuss the global challenge of climate change, thousands of kilometres away people in Cambodia are grappling with dramatic changes to the country’s ecosystem, including the lowest water levels in the crucially-important Mekong River ever recorded. The United Nations Development Programme, ...
Andrew Nachemson
CLMTV highlights protection of workers’ rights
Laos will continue to cooperate with regional and development partners to protect migrant workers’ rights, a conference in Siem Reap, Cambodia was told last week. Conducted under the theme ‘Toward the Protection of Migrant Workers in CLMTV Countries: Cooperation in Social Security’, the opening of the ...
Phetphoxay Sengpaseuth
The Dramatic Growth of Methamphetamine Production in the Mekong Region
In recent years, countries in the Mekong region have faced over-supply of methamphetamine from the Golden Triangle. Especially Crystal meth and “Yaba” a methamphetamine pill. Methamphetamine has become more accessible and available, despite efforts to disrupt supply and precursor chemicals. New strategies are needed to stop ...
Spread of fake news not just a threat to media, but hurts society and business too: Media leaders
The rise of fake news is an existential moment for journalism, and there needs to be a combined global effort to combat it. Such a move is crucial, especially with the rise of tech platforms which have accelerated the spread of falsehoods online, media leaders said ...
From Pak Mun to Xayaburi: It’s time to rethink hydroelectric dams along the Mekong
The rising demand for electricity is often touted as a reason for building dams. But the proponents of dams conveniently overlook the impact on those living on the river banks and the destruction of ecosystems. Ever since the Pak Mun dam was built in Ubon ...
Kanokwan Manorom
Politics of regional trade liberalisation
As multilateral trade negotiations have become unworkable, regional and bilateral alternatives are on the rise. In Thailand’s neighbourhood, the most consequential of these trade vehicles is the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). As it missed the boat on the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), ...
Thitinan Pongsudhirak
Reacting to reform: Cambodia’s environment: Triumph or tyranny?
Cambodia’s new environmental policies are promising, but they also signal a government agenda to consolidate power over the country’s forests, Sarah Milne writes. In 2016, Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen announced a dramatic suite of jurisdictional and policy reforms that will affect how land and forests are governed ...
Sarah Milne
