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Andy Hall on Phuket with migrant workers uninvolved in the defamation case

Defamation Witness Threatened With Death: Thai Officials Asked to Protect Him

Saturday, November 1, 2014
PHUKET: A key witness in a defamation case won by the beleagured migrant rights activist Andy Hall earlier this week went to police today, claiming his life has been threatened.

The witness, a migrant worker whose testimony is regarded as swinging the case in Hall's favor, had been granted protection and was leading a new life.

Hall and his lawyers believe the people who have been issuing threats somehow managed to track down the man.

''This man's testimony was very important,'' Hall said today.

''Now the British Government has written to Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, asking for an investigation of the threats to his life.''

Finland's Ambassador to Thailand also urged officials to act. Mr Hall was working for the NGO Finnwatch when he coauthored the report on labor conditions that triggered the defamation suits.

Mr Hall said the Department of Special Investigation or the Ministry of Justice now had to provide the man with thorough protection.

''If they can't protect him . . . this is a real test case.''

The Prakanong Court in Bangkok on Wednesday dismissed a case of defamation brought against Hall by a Thai pineapple processing company. Three more cases are pending.

It's alleged that the people intimidating the witness were carrying guns when they attended the court hearing and dropped bullets near the witness and his wife.

Comments

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Who is making these threats? I ask because the identity of the person or persons making the threats would give an indication as to which group or groups have an interest in the continuation of an event that is damaging the reputation of Thailand. I can't see the average Thai caring one way or the other since the implications of the legal actions have not been fully addressed in the Thai language media. Most Thais are unaware of the case. Is it a shadowy group of ultra nationalists or backers of the military junta or the company itself? I find it hard to believe that the company would do this as surely by now it must understand the damage the court case(s) have done to the company's reputation and the Thai agricultural sector as a whole. Someone, in the industry must have a inkling that keeping this case going could result in boycotts or international sanctions.

Posted by Ryan on November 1, 2014 22:03

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It's very good that UK gov-nt takes so active role here.

It's a bit difficult to believe that their last Koh Tao case remarks were accurately re-told by hosts, or whether these remarks were sincere or just merely follow boundaries of protocol and local customs protocol on communication.
Assuming they took DNA samples of 2 suspects without intermediaries, then question is whether UK have got DNA material to test match on bodies that arrived in the end of September.

Posted by Sue on November 1, 2014 22:41

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We are very pleased of Andy for winning the defamation case. We are very disturbed learning threat of life of migrant witness. The migrant deserves full protection .We hope the best.

Posted by Maung Kyaw Nu,President of Burmese Rohingya Association in Thailand (BRAT) on November 2, 2014 03:36

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I find it hard to believe that a person or persons were allegedly carrying weapons during a hearing in a public court room. Surely there must be some sort of security screening of the public entering the court building. I have been searched before entering many administrative buildings in Bangkok, and of course could not get past the gates of my embassy without a thorough screening.
With the country under martial law an explanation for such a breach of security is essential if a persons life has been threatened inside a court of law.

Posted by Pete on November 2, 2014 07:54


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