Burma Campaign UK today joined the campaign in support of Andy Hall, a migrant researcher who defends the rights of migrants in Thailand, who is facing legal action in an attempt to silence him.
A court hearing about the case in Thailand was expected to take place today.
Following Andy Hall exposing human rights abuses against migrant workers in their factory, the Natural Fruit company in Thailand is taking legal action for defamation which could result in his being fined more than £6.6 million, and spending seven or more years in jail.
Andy Hall managed a team of researchers producing a report on labour conditions for migrant workers in factories in Thailand. The report, ‘Cheap Has A High Price’, was published by the Finnish organisation Finnwatch, on 21st January 2013. It is available online here.
The report exposed human rights abuses at a Natural Fruit company factory in Thailand which processes pineapple products. The vast majority of the workers are migrants from Burma. The abuses include child labour, workers being hit by security staff and managers, dangerous working conditions with heatstroke and fainting common due to high temperatures, and electric shocks and other injuries, compulsory overtime, illegally low wages, unfair deductions and charges from salaries, and seizure of passports and ID papers and which are not returned on request.
By targeting Andy Hall, Natural Fruit are also trying to threaten others who try to expose their illegal behaviour. It is an attack on free speech, and threatens work to improve the rights of migrant workers in Thailand. There are an estimated 2-3 million migrant workers in Thailand, mostly from Burma, Laos and Cambodia. Around eighty-percent of all migrants in Thailand are thought to be from Burma.
“I think it’s a malicious case and I think it’s an attempt to silence me,” said Andy Hall.
“Natural Fruit must drop the charges against Andy Hall,” said Mark Farmaner, Director at Burma Campaign UK. “Instead of Natural Fruit taking Andy Hall to court, the government of Thailand should be taking Natural Fruit to court for breaking the law. If Natural Fruit don’t drop these ridiculous charges they will do even more damage to their own reputation. The solution to this problem is for Natural Fruit to treat migrant workers fairly and in accordance with the law, not shoot the messenger.”
Natural Fruit also has strong political connections in Thailand. Nai Wirat is a major shareholder, and is the older brother of Chalermchai Sri-on, who is General Secretary of the Democratic Party.
Burma Campaign UK supporters are being asked to send an email to Natural Fruit demanding the company drop the charges against Andy Hall and take action to improve the working conditions in their factory.