• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
Burma Campaign UK

Burma Campaign UK

  • Campaign News
  • Media
    • News
    • Reports
    • Burma Briefing
    • Blog
  • Take Action
    • Campaign Actions
    • Investment and Trade in Burma
    • Dirty List
    • Free All Political Prisoners
    • Persecution of the Rohingya
    • Arms Embargo
    • Aid to Burma
  • Support us
    • Donate
    • T-shirt store
    • Fundraising for Burma
    • Leave a gift in your Will
    • Trade Union Affiliation
    • Sign up to our Action Network
  • About Burma
    • Introduction
    • Timeline of the Coup
    • Fake 2010 Elections
    • Cyclone Nargis
    • 2007 Uprising in Burma
    • Aung San Suu Kyi
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
  • Resources
  • Donate

Finnwatch researcher Andy Hall trial in Thailand: Charge is dismissed due to unlawful interrogation process

October 29, 2014 All News

The Prakanong Court in Bangkok dismissed defamation charge brought against Andy Hall by Natural Fruit Company Ltd, a pineapple export factory. Natural Fruit has launched multiple criminal and civil prosecution against the researcher and activist since February 2013 as a result of his contribution to a Finnwatch report published in 2013. The report revealed serious human rights violations at Natural Fruit’s pineapple juice production facilities.

According to the court decision the charge is dismissed due to unlawful interrogation process under section 120 of the criminal procedure code.

“We are relieved and glad that justice has prevailed in this case”, says Sonja Vartiala, the Executive Director of Finnwatch.

During Andy Hall’s trial, the court heard, for instance, a former worker of Natural Fruit who testified that the factory was hiring under aged children and paid unlawfully low salaries to its workers.

“The court hearings were yet another confirmation that, as Finnwatch’s report revealed, there are serious problems in working conditions at Natural Fruit. The question that now must be asked is why Thailand’s authorities have not taken action against the company however”, says Vartiala.

The case verdict today, concerning an interview Hall gave to Aljazeeraa on his criminal prosecutions, is just the first of four cases filed against Andy Hall by Natural Fruit. The second case, a US$10m civil defamation case, will begin tomorrow (30th of October) at Nakhon Pathom Court. The third case, computer crimes act and criminal defamation charges, will proceed on 17th of November at the Southern Bangkok Criminal Court. Dates for a fourth US$4 million civil case have not yet been confirmed.

If Hall is found guilty of the additional criminal and civil cases, he could face up to seven years in prison and be forced to pay millions of Euros for compensation.

“Finnwatch demands Natural Fruit now drop all the charges against Andy Hall. Instead of allowing companies to bring human rights activists to court, Thailand needs to prosecute companies like Natural Fruit, who are violating labour rights”, says Vartiala.

Finnwatch and hundreds of other international NGO’s regard the court proceedings against Andy Hall as judicial harassment and see that his important and successful work is being seriously hindered by these actions.

Today, international demonstrations will be held in Finland, Netherlands, UK and the United States to support Andy Hall.

For further information, please contact:

1. Sonja Vartiala, Executive Director, Finnwatch: +358(0)445687465,
sonja.vartiala@finnwatch.org

2. Andy Hall, Migration Researcher: +66(0)846119209,
andyjhall1979@gmail.com, twitter @atomicalandy

3. Nakhon Chomphuchart, Legal Advisor to Andy Hall: +66(0)818473086,
nakhonct@gmail.com

For further information, see also our document “Q&A Criminal Trial of Natural Fruit vs. Andy Hall” (updated on 27th Oct)

For more information on the case against Andy Hall, please visit:
www.andyjhall.wordpress.com

On 29th Oct there will be a global day of action in support of Andy Hall and demonstrations will be organized in four countries. More information about the events:

– Helsinki, Finland, 9 a.m. Contact: Sonja Vartiala,
sonja.vartiala@finnwatch.org

Event page.

– The Hague, Netherlands, 10 a.m. Contact: Wendy Schutte,
Wendy.Schutte@fairfood.org

– London, United Kingdom, 4:30 p.m. Contact: Owen Tudor,
OTudor@tuc.org.uk
Event page.

– Washington, DC, USA, 4:30 p.m. Contact: Abby McGill, abby@ilrf.org
Event page.

 

www.finnwatch.org

Recent news stories

Previous Post:Wirat Piyapornpaiboon Shoots the Messenger
Next Post:Hugo Swire Impersonates Ostrich In British Parliament

Sidebar

You may also like

  1. Court orders Andy Hall to pay 10 million baht in damages to Natural Fruit
  2. Trial on Criminal Defamation and Computer Crimes Charges against British Migrants Rights Activist Andy Hall Commences 19th May in Bangkok
  3. Natural Fruit vs Andy Hall: Thailand must end harassment of researchers and human rights defenders
  4. Migrant Rights Worker Facing Jail – Drop the Charges Against Andy Hall

Join our action network

Subscribe

Who we are

Burma Campaign UK works for Human Rights, Democracy and Development in Burma

Join our Action Network

Subscribe

Find out more

  • Campaign News
  • About Burma
  • About Us
  • Resources

Follow us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn

Materials on this website are provided under a Creative Commons License | Privacy and Cookies Policy

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Click Read More for information on cookies and our privacy policy. Accept or Block non-essential cookies
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT