In a shocking blow against justice today, courts in Thailand found activist Andy Hall guilty of ‘computer crimes’ and ‘criminal defamation’.

 Andy has been given a three year suspended sentence and fined 150,000 Thai Baht ($4,300; £3,300).[1]

 Following the verdict, Andy stated to the press that it "shows people are not free or at liberty to do this kind of research".[2] 

Andy has been fighting claims made against him by Thai company, Natural Fruit, for over four years. This followed the company’s decision to target him for interviewing migrant workers from their pineapple factory. Andy was contracted by Finnish organisation, Finnwatch, to carry out the interviews, and in its corresponding report, Finnwatch claimed Natural Fruit ‘grossly violated’ the basic rights of its workers.[3] However, Natural Fruit went after an easy target: Andy.

“Andy has been made a scapegoat in order to stifle other voices that speak out legitimately in support of migrant worker rights" said Finnwatch Executive Director Sonja Vartiala.[4]

Despite almost 300,000 actions taken by Walk Free supporters, as well as pressure placed on the Thai government by others in the international community, this verdict shows that in Thailand a company’s reputation is more important than speaking out about the rights of migrant workers to be free from exploitation and modern slavery. 

We are not sitting quietly and letting this matter drop. We are working with our partners around the world to figure out the best way to support Andy as he fights this decision through the appeals process. We will let you know as soon as we have established the best way that you can help ensure human rights defenders in Thailand like Andy can continue their valuable work.

In solidarity,

 Zoe, Joanna, Eugenia and the Walk Free team