Human rights in Thailand: Andy Hall's legal battle to defend migrant workers

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Human rights in Thailand: Andy Hall's legal battle to defend migrant workers

BANGKOK:-- Andy Hall is waiting for his meditation class to begin in a Bangkok hospital as we talk over Skype, and our conversation is occasionally interrupted by fast-talking Thai voices.

Hall answers my questions calmly. The human rights defender doesn’t seem like a man carrying the weight of multiple prosecutions and the possibility of seven years in a Thai prison.

But this week Hall was officially indicted by the Thai court on criminal defamation and computer crimes charges, relating to a report that alleged abuses against migrant workers at a pineapple processing factory. A lengthy legal drama that’s gone on for three years, the next step will be the trail on 19 May.

Back in 2012, Hall was working as a freelance research coordinator for Finnish NGO Finnwatch, which was analysing working conditions in Finnish supply chains. Its 2013 report, Cheap Has a High Price, alleged human rights violations and illegal activities by Natural Fruit Company, a pineapple processing plant in Prachuap Khiri Khan province in southern Thailand.

The report alleged that there were dangerous working conditions in the factory, illegally low wages and discriminatory treatment against migrant workers. Hall had interviewed employees at the company and the report drew on his research. Natural Fruit vigorously denied all allegations, and within a fortnight of the report being published, the company had decided to prosecute Hall.

Full story: http://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2016/jan/22/human-rights-thailand-andy-hall-legal-battle-migrant-workers

-- The Guardian 2016-01-23

[NeverSure]

If anyone had any doubt that Thailand hasn't left the Paleolithic Period, this should do it.

[lujanit]

The truth will not set you free in Thailand. Big money is always right as big money can buy people in places of influence.

I hope the world media give this story and the background to it massive and ongoing coverage.

Yet we have seen with the debacle regarding Koh Tao foreign national governments ( Britain in this case) are more concerned with diplomacy than calling a spade a spade.

The EU have already partially caved in on IUU fishing. None of these governments have any guts. This just reinforces that the Thais believe that they are right and they will continue flouting human rights and international law.

I hope Andy Hall has very good representation and they will not be swayed by arguments that have nothing to do with his case. Please don't use National Interest as an excuse.

[Squeegee]

Well done Guardian for keeping Andy in everyone's thoughts.

[Lupatria]

The headline says:

Human rights in Thailand:

It's as good as:

lce and snow cover the Amazon

[ALLSEEINGEYE]

Anyone that thinks this is specific only to Thailand does not have their eyes open.

Big business has the power to ruin your life in almost every corner of the planet.

The developed West is no exception. They have the money, and therefore the politicians behind them.

The average guy doesn't stand a chance.

good luck to you Andy, you got balls and integrity.

Boycott National Fruit Company. Name and shame all of their subsidiaries.

Loss of revenue is the only way to affect the attitudes of these sociopaths.

[bark]

If you ask most employees in Thailand. They will say they don't get paid enough, working conditions not great, too many hour etc.

I don't blame the Fruit company. Why did Andy Hall go to 20 other companies supplying food to Finland.

You need to remember, that he was working for a company which wanted to show negative things. If he did not write it that way; they would not need him. Therefore no more pay.

[elgordo38]

The truth will not set you free in Thailand. Big money is always right as big money can buy people in places of influence.

I hope the world media give this story and the background to it massive and ongoing coverage.

Yet we have seen with the debacle regarding Koh Tao foreign national governments ( Britain in this case) are more concerned with diplomacy than calling a spade a spade.

The EU have already partially caved in on IUU fishing. None of these governments have any guts. This just reinforces that the Thais believe that they are right and they will continue flouting human rights and international law.

I hope Andy Hall has very good representation and they will not be swayed by arguments that have nothing to do with his case. Please don't use National Interest as an excuse.

There is no more international human rights left. All governments have circled the wagons on Human Rights. They take people like Andy and try to stiffle them. If they do not get you this time Andy they will the next. Its like the old TV show of yesteryear "The Price Will Be Right" its the nature of the beast. The world is all about big business profits forget the rights of the little guy he has none. My seed dropped out of a poor tap and I had to fight for survival but it was a fight when things were more civilized than today jobs were plentiful and long lasting money had a truer value and went a long way my first house cost me $11,000. I feel sadness for my children and their children on their future not so rosy I am afraid. Some are born with a silver spoon in their mouth and now want to turn it in for a gold one at any price. Thankfully I am retired and I think my government will have enough money to pay my pension till the end well if I am lucky I guess. Cheers to my partners in retirement raise a pint and remember the "good" old days.

[Balance]

If you ask most employees in Thailand. They will say they don't get paid enough, working conditions not great, too many hour etc.

I don't blame the Fruit company. Why did Andy Hall go to 20 other companies supplying food to Finland.

You need to remember, that he was working for a company which wanted to show negative things. If he did not write it that way; they would not need him. Therefore no more pay.

Many EU and American companies have a requirement, either governmental or their own BOD, to document the health of their supply chains. This is what Nestle just completed. Its customers and shareholders want to keep the BOD and management honest with regard to business practices, human rights, and environmental impact and sustainability.

Andy Hall was working for a company that is hired by global commercial companies to do an audit. They are not paid based on how many bad things they find. They are paid for the report and for the quality of the documentation.

In the U.S. the membership of Costco, a very large upscale big box retailer, filed a class action law suit to force management to state on the tuna cans from CP that slave labor was used as well as outlawed fishing practices.

Thailand and other third world countries that believe that they can rape and pillage the environment because they make more money are on the wrong side of history and history is catching up with them. Unfortunately, the argument from these folks that the west raped and pillaged does not work when the world has 3 billion more people and social media. It is necessary that they skip this segment in the development of countries. Painful? Perhaps, but if they just did it and stopped whining, the pain would be short-lived and everyone would benefit.

[NCC1701A]

a brave man.

maybe we should all wear tee shirts that has his name printed on them in big block letters. nothing else.

ANDY

HALL

i hope he has a go fund me account for fundraising. everybody on TV can send around $20 USD.

[Jools]

Cases such as this merely prove that the UK and the United States were right in demanding extraterritoriality in the early 20th century. It is an idea whose time has come again. In cases which do not involve violence or fraud, nationals of all western countries should be exempt from prosecution. Thailand refuses to act responsibly in so-called "defamation" cases and their record on LM is well known.

[Tassie Norm]

If you ask most employees in Thailand. They will say they don't get paid enough, working conditions not great, too many hour etc.

I don't blame the Fruit company. Why did Andy Hall go to 20 other companies supplying food to Finland.

You need to remember, that he was working for a company which wanted to show negative things. If he did not write it that way; they would not need him. Therefore no more pay.

Eh?

[springheeled jack]

I am totally behind andy hall in his endeavours to not only defend migrant workers rights but to get them the freedom they justly deserve but I am afraid he is fighting a losing battle against powerful people who will stop at nothing to silence those who interfere with their way of life.

[Wilsonandson]

I am totally behind andy hall in his endeavours to not only defend migrant workers rights but to get them the freedom they justlyqualler deserve but I am afraid he is fighting a losing battle against powerful people who will stop at nothing to silence those who interfere with their way of life.

Yes, your right, look the other way way, pesky migrants, over worked, underpaid, living in squaller with no one to help them. The filthy scum, how dare they ask for their rights, they're not Thai, look after yourself and be glad you got such a degrading, hellish job. Don't like it then go home, we don't need migrant workers in Thailand, we can pay Isaan workers to do it. Shoot, they refused. Well we'll find someone to do it cause we are Superior.

A post containing sarcasm.

Love Andy. The migrant workers hero.

[soalbundy]

If you ask most employees in Thailand. They will say they don't get paid enough, working conditions not great, too many hour etc.

I don't blame the Fruit company. Why did Andy Hall go to 20 other companies supplying food to Finland.

You need to remember, that he was working for a company which wanted to show negative things. If he did not write it that way; they would not need him. Therefore no more pay.

Eh?

maybe a fruit company employee, or just a plonker

[aussieinthailand]

It's dollars n cents, money, the big pay off. Let's face it people, justice and morality, those 2 trains are often far apart,, NOT...

Facts are facts , be they documented, video tape, or eye witnesses,,, one only has to go with history as history is the greatest educator of all.

To the winner goes' the spoils, and the winner wrights history, so now account for history 's accuracy......

deformation in LOS ( You made me look bad.) fact or fiction, and now throw a little computer crimes just for fun, credibility?????????????????Gaol an English reporter covering HR, the math has all ready been done, this may been just a show to others domestic consumption (falang no hab power here),,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,)

Let the facts speak for them selves, and let an honest heart make a call. Am I taking the p#ss? or saying as it is?

Edited January 23, 2016 by aussieinthailand