Rights activist Hall ordered to pay Bt10m in libel suit
The Phra Khanong Court yesterday ordered human-rights activist Andy Hall to pay a Bt10-million compensation to a pineapple firm over his comment on its labour practices.
Natural Fruit Co Ltd sued Hall for defamation following an interview he gave to Al-Jazeera English TV channel in Myanmar in April 2013.
The court also ordered Hall to pay a sum of Bt10,000 for the plaintiff’s lawyer and court fees, and interest at 7.5 per cent per annum from the date of the filing of this case until the amount is fully paid.
Hall, who is overseas at the moment, said he would appeal against the ruling.
“I did not expect this verdict and am very disappointed by it,” he said.
He was worried that the verdict would be a major setback for the rights of human rights defenders, migrant workers, labour/migration activists and researchers everywhere, and more importantly casts a dark shadow over recent positive progress the Thai government and Thai industry has made to improve migrant worker conditions.