Thai court dismisses first defamation case against Andy Hall
Migrant worker rights defender Andy Hall has received a positive signal from Prakanong Court in Bangkok, after it dismissed one of four cases against him brought by pineapple processor Natural Fruit Company. 
The case related to an interview with Al Jazeera journalist Wayne Hay about two other cases filed by the exporter in response to the Finnwatch report Andy Hall co-authored called "Cheap has a high price".
The report alleged serious human rights violations at Natural Fruit's pineapple juice production facilities.
According to the court decision, the charge was dismissed due to unlawful interrogation process under section 120 of the criminal procedure code.
"We are relieved and glad that justice has prevailed in this case," Finnwatch executive director Sonja Vartiala said in a release.
During the trial, the court heard many testimonies including one from a former Natural Fruit worker who claimed the factory hired underaged children and paid unlawfully low salaries to its workers.
"The court hearings were yet another confirmation that, as Finnwatch’s report revealed, there are serious problems in working conditions at Natural Fruit. The question that now must be asked is why Thailand's authorities have not taken action against the company however," Vartiala said.
Hall's US$10 million civil defamation case will start tomorrow (Oct. 30) at the Nakhon Pathom Court, while a third case relating to the computer crimes act and criminal defamation charges will begin on Nov. 17 in the Southern Bangkok Criminal Court.
Finnwatch said dates for a fourth US$4 million civil case have not yet been confirmed.
Aside from the monetary damages, Hall could also face up to seven years in jail as defamation is considered a criminal offense in Thailand.
"Finnwatch demands Natural Fruit now drop all the charges against Andy Hall. Instead of allowing companies to bring human rights activists to court, Thailand needs to prosecute companies like Natural Fruit, who are violating labour rights," Vartiala said.
Readers can visit our Andy Hall tag page for background and ongoing updates on the issue.
Photo: www.shutterstock.com
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