The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
The family of a human rights campaigner who could face seven years in a Thai prison have said he is “staying strong and positive”.
Former Spalding man Andy Hall is due to appear in court in October to face criminal defamation and computer crimes under what his family have called “draconian laws” relating to a report he co-authored which accused a fruit juice company of using child and forced labour.
Natural Fruit, which supplies fruit juice to the UK and US, filed a string of criminal and civil cases against the 35-year-old, including the latest prosecution under the defamation and violation of the Computer Crimes Act, which carries a maximum sentence of seven years.
Andy’s sister Jo Clay, who still lives in Spalding, along with their parents Pat and Des, said: “Obviously we are very concerned about what is happening to Andy as he is so far away in a country that appears to have its own draconian laws for computer and internet use.
“The most worrying fact is that the UK government is not being very pro active and it is their support Andy is desperately in need of.
“We have contacted our MP John Hayes once more this week in the hope we may get some response.”Andy is in close contact with his family in Spalding, and flies back from Thailand when he can.
Sister Jo said she had spoken to him this week.
She said: “Andy himself is so positive and strong and goes about his everyday work, but this has been hanging over him for 30 months now and must be very stressful for him.
“When you ask him he says ‘I stay strong fighting for justice knowing that if companies can do this to me, everyone will more clearly understand what they can do to the migrants’.
“We just have to wait now for October 19 when the court has ordered him to enter his plea.”
At that hearing, the court will decide whether Andy, who has lived in Thailand for ten years, will be given bail pending a trial.
Following his indictment earlier this week, Andy said: “I am confident of being cleared of all these ridiculous charges.
“This is plain and simple judicial harassment.”
The prosecutions follow the publication of Andy’s report in 2013 entitled Cheap Has a High Price, which alleged human rights abuses in the Thai fruit juice industry – focusing on working conditions at a Natural Fruit factory in southern Thailand.
Many of the workers in the factory were migrants from Thailand’s poorer neighbouring countries including Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos.
Thailand has one of the worst records in the world for turning a blind eye to human trafficking, according to the United State’s annual ranking.
The report accused the company of forced and child labour, unlawfully low wages and long hours – allegations the company has vigorously denied.
Andy says he stands by his research and has accused the company of trying to detract from the report’s damning findings through legal action.
Andy was acquitted of a defamation charge brought against him by Thailand’s Attorney General and Natural Fruit last year, but is also due back in court on September 25 to hear the ruling on an appeal brought by the two parties.
