Finnish NGO takes Activist in defend in Bangkok court
by Frederik Guy Hoff Sonne


Andy Hall in front of the Court (Photo: Finnwatch).

British activist Andy Hall has been pursued through courts in Bangkok relentlessly since early 2013 after he exposed abused labour at global fruit juice business National Fruit Company. Hall interviewed Thai company Natural Fruit’s workers for a report published by Finnwatch, a Finnish human rights watchdog, in 2013.

Finnwatch testified in court yesterday, June 12. Finnwatch noted that it was not Hall as a hired investigator who wrote or published the report but Finnwatch.

“Henry Purje and I were responsible for analysing, writing and publishing [the report]. It’s not Mr Hall,” Sonja Vartiala, executive director of the NGO, told the Southern Bangkok Criminal Court yesterday.

“We just wanted Mr Hall to interview the workers for us with guidelines of questions provided to him.

“When we received the information, we analysed it and sent questions for the companies to respond. When the companies did not respond we referred to it in the report,” she said.

Natural Fruit filed four lawsuits against Mr Hall. On Sept 18, 2015, the Appeal Court ruled in favour of Mr Hall on the charge of defamation.

The other three pending cases against Mr Hall, including a criminal case, involve charges related to computer crime and defamation.

If found guilty, the human rights defender may face up to seven years in prison.

Source: http://scandasia.com/finnish-ngo-takes-activist-in-defend-in-bangkok-court/


-- (c) Copyright Scandasia 2016-07-13

I can't say what I'd like to say because I would probably be arrested....but I'm thinking it right now...

Edited July 13, 20169 yr by ukrules

Thailand should be ashamed enough to pillory and prosecute this company - perhaps for damaging the image of Thailand.

Winnie

Andy Hall is a thorn in the Estblishment/Governments side, he's won most of his cases but their judicial system allows the accused to keep going after the accuser, till they get the result they want.

This company could have saved themselves a truckload of bad publicity by quickly doing something to address the issues raised in the report, rather than shooting the messenger.

If someone does go to jail, then the company will only have dug themselves an even deeper hole than the one they find themselves in now. At some point someone must have advised them this, but clearly they're not listening.

Yes, seems some morally corrupt criminal persons and companies can use the legal system to shut up those who may wish to question their actions yet they seem to be beyond the law when it comes down to their wrong doings.

Edited July 13, 20169 yr by Basil B

Unfortunately messengers (especially foreign ones) don't last long. Eventually the system will get you.

Andy Hall is a thorn in the Estblishment/Governments side, he's won most of his cases but their judicial system allows the accused to keep going after the accuser, till they get the result they want.

Actually once a court case has reached a conclusion (either in favor of defendant or accuser) the same case cannot be raised again by the accuser. However another party may raise a different case, which is probably what is happening.

......good for you guys.........

...but probably too much sense and too much civility for them to handle....

Unfortunately this affair sends a very bad signal to the international community. My company works for a major US entertainment company. Each supplier, new or existing, has to pass an annual social audit. The questions asked are basically the same that Mr Hall was asking. Twice a month I have to fly to China to visit our suppliers. Of course I'd love to work with Thailand, that would make my life much easier. Unfortunately if there is even a remote chance that I would end up in jail if I reject an unsuitable supplier because of social issues (and that happens pretty often), I'm afraid I'm still going to collect frequent flyer points for the foreseeable future.

Pretty crafty defence. Anyway getting a conviction is not the point, the point is to make people's lives miserable.

It would be a very different matter if the EU and US were investigating these matters just like the fishing industry with a threat of a ban on Thai fruit exports, it would then be .........................yes sir yes sir 3 bags full sir we are fully bent over touching our toes

Yes, seems some morally corrupt criminal persons and companies can use the legal system to shut up those who may wish to question their actions yet they seem to be beyond the law when it comes down to their wrong doings.

download.jpg

What do you think why the have harsh defamation laws or les majeste law in Thailand?Only to silence people so they can go on cheating and far more bad stuff.

If you shoot my dog because you don't like it's barking and I call you a dog killer,you will pay 500baht fine and you can sue me for defamation and I will go to jail.That's the way it's working here,unless you have money or you are a VIP.

Andy Hall is a thorn in the Estblishment/Governments side, he's won most of his cases but their judicial system allows the accused to keep going after the accuser, till they get the result they want.

Either that or roll out article 44.

Yes, seems some morally corrupt criminal persons and companies can use the legal system to shut up those who may wish to question their actions yet they seem to be beyond the law when it comes down to their wrong doings.

download.jpg

What do you think why the have harsh defamation laws or les majeste law in Thailand?Only to silence people so they can go on cheating and far more bad stuff.

If you shoot my dog because you don't like it's barking and I call you a dog killer,you will pay 500baht fine and you can sue me for defamation and I will go to jail.That's the way it's working here,unless you have money or you are a VIP.

That's what it looks like

Unfortunately this affair sends a very bad signal to the international community. My company works for a major US entertainment company. Each supplier, new or existing, has to pass an annual social audit. The questions asked are basically the same that Mr Hall was asking. Twice a month I have to fly to China to visit our suppliers. Of course I'd love to work with Thailand, that would make my life much easier. Unfortunately if there is even a remote chance that I would end up in jail if I reject an unsuitable supplier because of social issues (and that happens pretty often), I'm afraid I'm still going to collect frequent flyer points for the foreseeable future.

It sends a very bad signal to TVF posters, that's about all.

The overwhelming majority of people worldwide, including Thais, would have no knowledge of Andy Hall and would not care if they did.

There are much bigger issues for the international community to be concerned about rather than an insignificant would be hero trying for his 15 minutes of fame.

Why do they always call these groups NGO......isn't every business that is not Government owned an NGO.....do they use this term to try and sound as though they are officially sanctioned in some manner.

From what I have seen of these groups they are usually far left wing fanatics who brook no-ones opinion except their own and shout down all those with a differing viewpoint, often by using unsavoury tactics and telling blatant lies.

Look at Greenpeace, WWF etc etc.

Edited July 16, 20169 yr by Mudcrab

"....... he exposed abused labour at global fruit juice business National Fruit Company. "

The company is Natural Fruit Company in Prachuab Kirikhan...

http://www.naturalfruit.co.th/

Unfortunately this affair sends a very bad signal to the international community. My company works for a major US entertainment company. Each supplier, new or existing, has to pass an annual social audit. The questions asked are basically the same that Mr Hall was asking. Twice a month I have to fly to China to visit our suppliers. Of course I'd love to work with Thailand, that would make my life much easier. Unfortunately if there is even a remote chance that I would end up in jail if I reject an unsuitable supplier because of social issues (and that happens pretty often), I'm afraid I'm still going to collect frequent flyer points for the foreseeable future.

It sends a very bad signal to TVF posters, tha'ts about all. The overwhelming majority of people worldwide, including Thais, would have no knowledge of Andy Hall and would not care if they did.

There are much bigger issues for the international community to be concerned about rather than an insignificant would be hero trying for his 15 minutes of fame.

Would be hero?

Yes your right!

Thai's couldn't care less about Andy Pandy Hall. It's not Thai's that he is trying to help. It's the Burmese!

In Burma Andy Hall is a living Legend! In Burma Andy is a super hero! But in Thailand he is just another inconvenient foreigner poking his nose into migrant worker human rights. Andy Hall is not a popular man in Los due to the fact he has peeved off the a Democrat Party High-so whose Pine Apple factory employs under age Burmese migrant workers. Thai's of a Hi-so upbringing feel superior in everything they do so have difficulty admitting any wrong doing. The battle in court is of one man's mission to bring his 15 minutes of fame to educate the world of the plight of Burmese migrant workers in Thailand. Against a one man's pine apple company and his hi-so friends who are the ruling elite.

A David and Goliath story. Good luck Andy. You are a brave man with a heart of gold. Don't give up, millions of migrant workers hopes for better human rights in Thailand are wishing you suceed.

Edited July 16, 20169 yr by Wilsonandson

An informative video by Andy Hall in the Queen's English.

Edited July 17, 20169 yr by Wilsonandson

I can't say what I'd like to say because I would probably be arrested....but I'm thinking it right now...

You may be arrested for even thinking it.

Thanks Wilson&son; I have followed Andy's cases for several years.

For Mudcrab, - if you wish to inform yourself that there is more than 15 minutes involved here: refer to <https://andyjhall.wordpress.com/>

Andy has been treated misteably, during the past 3 years: taken into custody (ie remanded in a Thai jail), probably has his passport withheld; stuff which subjects one to abnormal levels of continual stress.

I would like to emphasis that this type of harassment is and has been normal, in Thailand, certainly going back many years.