Finland Times

 

NGO Finnwatch researcher Andy Hallin Helsinki. File Photo – Lehtikuva.

The Bangkok Criminal Court in Thailand on Monday decided to bring new charges of defamation and cybercrime against Finnwatch researcher Andy Hall.

 

Andy Hall will face the Court on October 19, where he will be arrested until or unless bail can be arranged.

 

The Natural Fruit Company has brought four criminal and civil legal proceedings against Hall for a Finnwatch 2013 report which highlighted concerns about serious human rights violations at the Natural Fruit pineapple juice factory.

 

At that time, the company refused to comment on the report's findings before it was published.

 

Meanwhile, Finnwatch, an NGO which investigates the global effects of business, characterized the new charges as a blow to human rights.

 

“The South Bangkok Criminal court has had the opportunity now for 30 months to stop the enduring intimidation, whose sole aim is silencing a human rights defender. Unfortunately, the Court elected to go to trial with baseless indictments,” said Finnwatch executive director Sonja Vartiala.

 

According to her, Hall's chances of getting a fair trial look bleak at this point.

 

The maximum penalty that the Court could impose in October is, according to Finnwatch, imprisonment for seven years.

 

Dozens of organizations have called for Thailand to stop the harassment of scientists and human rights defenders.

 

The organizations expressed serious concerns about the fact that the Thai federal public prosecutor's office is pushing for a retrial of the first lawsuit against Hall in 2014, which was rejected by the Court.

 

The decision on whether to reopen the trial is expected on September 25.

 

Finnwatch’s support comes from a group of Finnish development, trade union and environmental organizations.