The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Workers’ rights activist Andy Hall was on Tuesday (Sept 20) found guilty of defamation and computer crimes in Thailand – and immediately signalled his intention to appeal.
The 36-year-old, from Spalding, was convicted by Bangkok Criminal Court and handed a three-year suspended jail sentence and £3,300 fine.
Hall conducted interviews and research for a report by campaign group Finnwatch which alleged serious human rights and workers’ rights abuse in Thailand. It accused pineapple processor Natural Fruit of paying workers less than the minimum wage, making them do long hours in factories, and confiscating their passports.
Hall insisted that he had not written the report and he had not put it on the internet.
He said of the verdict: “We’re incredibly disappointed about the negative impact it will have on human rights activists across the country. How can you ever do research to defend workers in this type of situation?”
And he wrote on Twitter: “I fully respect court decision today but strongly disagree with the decision also. Shall use my right of appeal to fight to clear my name.”
Finnwatch said it took full responsibility for the report.
Executive director Sonja Vartiala said: “Andy has been made a scapegoat in order to stifle other voices that speak out legitimately in support of migrant worker rights.”
The court sentenced Hall to four years’ jail and 200,000 baht fine but reduced it to three years (suspended for two years) and 150,000 baht as he had been co-operative.
Britain’s Foreign Office and the UN Human Rights Office for Southeast Asia were concerned by the ruling.
The Foreign Office said: “The UK supports the right of human rights defenders to raise concerns about human rights violations without fear of reprisals or legal action to prevent public participation.”
