Individual Rights and Community Rights in the Mekong River Basin, Kok River, and Sai River (Including the Ruak River) for Environmental Justice Claims: A Legal Feasibility Study on Transboundary Pollution Litigation
Keywords:
individual rights, community rights, transboundary pollution, environmental litigationAbstract
This research aims to: (1) examine the scope of the rights of individuals and communities in Thailand residing in the Mekong, Kok, Sai, and Ruak river basins to seek environmental justice under Thai and international law; and (2) analyze the feasibility of employing appropriate legal mechanisms to initiate transboundary pollution litigation arising from the acts or omissions of individuals, groups, or private entities located abroad that cause environmental harm within Thailand. The study is grounded in the 2024 heavy metal contamination, particularly arsenic, affecting these river basins, which has adversely impacted water quality, ecosystems, and the livelihoods of local communities.
The findings indicate that transboundary water pollution constitutes not only an environmental issue but also a human rights concern, as it is intrinsically linked to the right to live in a healthy environment and to community rights under the Thai Constitution. It is also consistent with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those relating to water, health, and justice. However, the study identifies significant structural constraints, including the evasion of responsibility by upstream states, the limitations of international and regional enforcement mechanisms, and practical difficulties concerning jurisdiction, identification of defendants, evidentiary collection, and the enforcement of judgments where defendants or assets are located outside Thailand. In response, this research proposes the use of domestic legal mechanisms to support litigation in cases where damage occurs within the Kingdom of Thailand, relying on jurisdiction under Section 4 of the Civil Procedure Code, together with evidentiary standards and remedial design tailored to the scientific and legal complexities of transboundary pollution disputes. Furthermore, the study recommends the adoption of class action proceedings as the most suitable procedural mechanism for protecting victims’ rights, reducing litigation costs, and enhancing the overall effectiveness of collective remedies.
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