On the Thailand-Laos border, the Mekong River serves not only as a source of food and livelihoods for the people, but also as a natural boundary marking the sovereignty of each country.

However, this natural border is more complicated than it seems. The Mekong has more than one hundred small islands, which have been a source of territorial conflict between the two countries for nearly a century.

The main issue is who has the right to use these islands and exactly where is the boundary between the two countries.

The problem has become even more complex in recent times because the shapes of these islands have changed, and some have even disappeared, due to natural and human-made factors.

Development activities like dam construction and sand mining have altered the river’s flow, which then shifts the flow of sediment which affects the islands, further complicating the situation.

These issues were the main focus of the explanatory film Between Nature and Nation, which explores how environmental changes have impacted border disputes and driven nationalism.

According to documents from Thai authorities, more than 113 islands along the Thai-Lao border have changed, making it challenging to determine sovereignty.

These changes have also led to conflicts between people from both countries. Previously, they peacefully shared the islands for agricultural purposes. But now, with the shifting islands, some locals have claimed new territory and redefined border lines, leading to disputes over ownership.

The solution might lie in a new form of agreement that allows people from both sides of the borders to benefit from the islands, rather than fencing them off solely for nationalistic reasons.

Watch Between Nature and Nation: