“This is about persecution. It’s a political case to try and silence me… I’m someone that’s revealing things that the government and the industry don’t want me to reveal.” – Andy Hall1
Human rights activist Andy Hall has been convicted in the Thai courts for reporting on labor rights abuses in the Thai pineapple industry. In 2013, a report which included some of Andy’s research was published. it included allegations of worker abuse and slavery-like practices in the Natural Fruit factory, a Thai company that processes pineapples and supplies retailers around the world.
Instead of looking into the allegations, Natural Fruit targeted Andy. He was hauled into court on charges of computer crime and criminal defamation. After a bitter legal fight, Andy was found guilty and sentenced to a three year suspended sentence and a fine of 150,000 Baht.
We now need to call on the Thai Government to do the right thing and ensure that all remaining charges against Andy Hall are dropped.
The Thai authorities are already facing global scrutiny for not doing enough to protect workers from abuse – the latest US Trafficking in Persons report gives Thailand the lowest score for action to tackle trafficking.2
Please show your support for Andy and migrant workers that remain vulnerable to modern slavery in Thailand: take action to demand that the remaining charges are dropped now.
Wolfgang Z.,
Anna P.,
Philippa S.,
Courtney S.,
Hannelore H.,
Betsy M.,
Andy, what a brave and courageous soul you are, thank you so much for all you do in the name Compassion, Justice and Human Rights.. You are truly a hero in the eyes of us all who believe in fairness and equality.. Wish I could do more to help you and all those trapped by the greed of others.. This World is sadly tarnished by those driven by greed, my only hope is that you succeed in everything you do in the name of others.. Thank You for your Courageousness
Good on you Andy. i am proud of you. You are more than brave. I feel like i am expressing platitudes in the comfort of my home in country that espouses rights for all. Hah! Australia was always regarded as up there with human rights, but I have been distressed and ashamed over the last 10 years .not necessarily by the people I know or work with. But the sentiment has shifted by the ill informed and the very occasional politicians with too much influence. Jacinta
Farm Foods and Morrisons use chicken from Thailand
What Andy is doing is beyond brave, & so few people would put their own lives on the line as Andy does… to protect & try to save other human beings from abuse. Andy really is an “earth angel” for trying & trying to allieviate the suffering & mental & physical abuse of most of these helpless exploited “workers” or rather slaves. Andy you really are 1 in a million to put your own life at risk in this way . Thankyou
This Thai company sounds like it is running the old United Fruit Company scams. Thailand or Central America, it is all the same to them.