Migrant and labor rights activist Andy Hall was formally indicted on Monday, January 18, 2016, on computer crimes and criminal defamation charges in Thailand. The indictment stems from research Andy conducted in pineapple canning facilities of the Thai export company Natural Fruit. The research was included in a report published and disseminated by the Finnish NGO Finnwatch.
Andy's trial in the criminal charges begins May 19. If found guilty, he could face seven years imprisonment and millions of dollars in fines. A civil case stemming from the same report will begin January 25. Natural Fruit had also brought criminal defamation charges against Andy in relation to a television interview he did about the research. Those charges were dismissed on October 24, 2014, but the Attorney General of Thailand has chosen to continue its judicial harassment by appealing that dismissal to the Thai Supreme Court.
ILRF is part of an international coalition of 44 organizations that wrote to the Thai government expressing concern over the charges when they were first filed. Allies around the world have asked the Thai government to end this prosecutorial harassment and ensure its legal code respects freedom of speech and activities of labor rights defenders. ILRF is also partnering with Walk Free on a petition demanding these unjust charges against Andy be dropped. Please join the more than 100,000 people who have already taken action and sign today!
You can also send a message to the Thai government, demanding Andy Hall go free. Here's a suggested tweet: Shame on #Thailand for its judicial harassment of @Atomicalandy in #NaturalFruit case! I stand with #HumanRights defenders. @ThaiEmbDC
To follow updates, follow Andy's blog. You can support Andy's legal defense fund here.