National Human Rights Commission of Thailand Environmental impact of infrastructure projects in neighbouring States The National Human Rights Commission of Thailand has undertaken many investigations into the environmental impact in Thailand of infrastructure projects in neighbouring States. The Commission provided five examples of this kind of work. First, in May 2020, the Commission received a complaint regarding the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy dam collapse in Attapeu Province, Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), which resulted in significant loss of life, displacement and environmental damage in Thailand. The complainant raised concerns about the responsibility of Thai businesses involved in the project and the need for compensation and remedies for the victims. The Commission made recommendations to the Thai Cabinet, including establishing an oversight agency to regulate foreign investments made by Thai businesses to ensure their compliance with human rights principles and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the Commission also recommended that the Bank of Thailand promote and implement sustainable banking guidelines which incorporate environmental, social and governance factors in lending practices, and assess social and environmental risks before loan approval. Second, in September 2023, following the signing of a power purchase agreement by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand for the Pak Beng hydropower project in Lao PDR, the Commission conducted field visits to Chiang Rai province in Thailand. It was found that many residents lacked sufficient information on the project and the project could cause several environmental issues because of insufficient assessments. Third, in October 2024, the Commission submitted a letter to the Prime Minister expressing concerns over environmental impacts arising from the development of four hydropower projects on the Mekong River located within Lao PDR territory next to Thailand’s border. These hydropower projects pose a high risk of transboundary impacts, including environmental issues, as well as effects on fisheries, the economy, society and local communities, particularly in Loei and Ubon Ratchathani provinces in Thailand. The Commission recommended a review of Thailand’s power purchase agreements and reserve power capacity, and emphasised the need for a risk and impact assessment on human rights in accordance with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, as member countries under the 1995 Agreement on the Cooperation for the Sustainable Development of the Mekong River Basin, submitted their concerns to the Mekong River Commission. The concerns were subsequently forwarded to the Lao PDR and led the Lao PDR to develop a joint action plan among member countries. However, there has not been much progress in implementation of the plan. In response, the Commission submitted a letter to the Prime Minister of Thailand, urging a review of the power purchase agreement for the project to ensure the protection of the rights of affected individuals and communities. A fourth case involved transborder pollution from the Hongsa power plant and mining project in the Lao PDR which impacted on the health of residents in Nan province, Thailand. The Commission collaborated with local academics to create a community-based health monitoring system and urged provincial authorities to work with communities for its effectiveness. The Commission is also investigating claims of Thai investors exploiting legal loopholes to bypass Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), with findings aimed at enhancing compliance and mitigating long-term effects. The last example is the case of a Thai sugar company’s operation in Cambodia. In 2015 the Commission investigated complaints against a Thai sugar company, regarding its operations in local communities in Cambodia. The complaints alleged that the Thai company’s activities, including land concessions granted by the Cambodian government, led to human rights violations against local communities. The Commission made recommendations to the Thai government to establish 26 National action on international issues