Migrant Worker Whistle Blowers Plead Not Guilty To Defaming Chicken Farm

By Sasiwan Mokkhasen, Staff Reporter

 

Fourteen migrant workers from Myanmar pose Wednesday in front of Don Mueang Court. Photo: Migrant Workers Rights Network

 

BANGKOK — Fourteen migrant workers pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges of defamation brought by a chicken farm they had accused of labor abuses.

 

Prosecution of the 14 Burmese defendants on charges brought by Thammakaset Farm, which supplies poultry to agricultural conglomerate Betagro, began after they complained to the National Human Rights Commission that they were being forced to work and deprived of their rights.

 

Full Story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/business/2017/10/04/migrant-worker-whistleblowers-plead-not-guilty-defaming-chicken-farm/

 

-- © Copyright Khaosod English 2017-10-4

In the real world the company would be fined but in Thailand they sue the workers Hmmmm

This is what makes the country look so bad the Thai Computer Crimes act, you cannot even tell people that some are corrupt as hell here without that person using a draconian law to try and shut people up. There is no chance for this country to move forward with laws like this on the books, The corrupt of which there are many here who do this, Just ask Andy Hall, Ian Rance and Jonathan Head and many others.

 

just to give you an idea how bad this act is

 

If you go to a Thai restaurant in your own country and then have a bad meal then put a comment on the likes of trip advisor or the likes of, then go to Thai the owner of that restaurant can sue you via the CCa. In your own country you can do this by law, but not in Thai and yes this did happen to a friend of ours.

 

A corrupt law for the corrupt who use it like attorneys in a certain BK office.

 

Good luck to the former staff of this Lop buri chicken farm, with this lot you will need it. I bet they even took their passports off them.

 

Edited October 4, 20178 yr by wakeupplease

1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

they complained to the National Human Rights Commission that they were being forced to work and deprived of their rights.

That is where they made their mistake. Human rights in Thailand does not apply for foreign workers. The military idiots that run the place booted them all out just recently and after realising they made a huge stuff up they let them all back in.

I seriously doubt there is a Thai within the bureaucracy with an IQ above double digits. 

The education system testifies to that.

Edited October 4, 20178 yr by Cadbury

computer crime act

- a law to protect the criminals and punish the victims

 

only in Thailand

Edited October 4, 20178 yr by sweatalot

Makes sense.  The criminals have the power of the state behind them.

13 hours ago, sweatalot said:

computer crime act

- a law to protect the criminals and punish the victims

 

only in Thailand

Soon enough, there will be someone coming along, to inform us: "it doesn't only happen in Thailand..."

Long past time a government - a competent one - took it upon itself to align the Thai version of defamation with the legitimate one, thus putting these companies who will sue at the drop of the owner's hat, in their rightful place.

1 hour ago, DM07 said:

Soon enough, there will be someone coming along, to inform us: "it doesn't only happen in Thailand..."

I will not but would say sadly it would be too good if it was true that it only happens in Thailand 

 

The current defamation laws encourage people to a) mind their own business and not complain if you see something wrong, criminal, suspicious etc or  if a victim then to keep quiet and not complain unless you feel inclined to face the defamation counter charge that will inevitably be brought.

 

It makes normal non wealthy people, who can't afford armies of lawyers and long court cases, going through the appeals processes,  scared of the law and less likely to complain especially against people who are more wealthy and higher perceived socially.

 

Whatever the original intention, the way it is now suits many, so unlikely to be changed.

 

Thammakaset poultry Co were recently ordered to pay compensation to abused Burmese workers. Thammakaset could not tolerate this huge loss of face and are now taking action against the workers for criminal defamation.

 

So next time you pick up a Betagro product.....

55 minutes ago, maxpower said:

So next time you pick up a Betagro product.....

So that's Betagro and Red Bull on my no buy list.