Regional News

Activist Andy Hall Says I’d Be Dead By Now If I Wasn’t British

Andy Hall speaks to the media as he arrives for his trial in Bangkok on Tuesday. Athit Perawongmeth/Reuters

Andy Hall speaks to the media as he arrives for his trial in Bangkok on Tuesday. Photo Athit Perawongmeth

BANGKOK – The British activist who is on trial in Thailand after uncovering alleged “modern slavery” in a local pineapple factory says he would have been murdered for speaking out if he wasn’t a foreigner.

Andy Hall is facing up to seven years in prison and fines of more than $10 million (£6.1 million), after being sued on multiple charges by the factory’s owner, Natural Fruit, which claims his report sought to damage the Thai pineapple industry.

Human Rights Watch said the charges violate Hall’s right to free speech and will have a “chilling effect“ on investigations of alleged rights abuses by Thai companies.

Hundreds of trade groups have voiced their support for Hall and over 300,000 people have signed petitions calling for Natural Fruit to drop the charges. The first of his seven trials began on Tuesday.

Hall helped to write a report detailing working conditions for migrants from nearby Myanmar, also known as Burma, at the factory, including workers being beaten, illegal low pay and bosses confiscating passports. Workers had no right to annual leave, the report said, and would often faint due to overwork and heat.

One worker lost a finger and was given no compensation. Another died from an electric shock and their family was given less than a tenth of the legal compensation owed to them, the report alleged.

Speaking to reporters after the first day of his trial, Hall said people who spoke out against companies in Thailand were routinely threatened with violence. “If you were a Thai or a Myanmar person in my situation you would have been killed many years ago,” he said.

“It’s because I’m a high-profile foreigner that I can speak out. It’s dangerous in Thailand, there are hit men everywhere and they use violence to intimidate people. They lock people up.

“If I lose this trial it will have an incredibly chilling effect on people, because they are already so scared in this kind of climate. People have seen the way I’m being treated and they won’t want to go through this.”

Scores of supporters gathered at the court in Bangkok today, including about 30 Myanmar migrant workers as well as Thai labour leaders, UN agencies, legal academics and a representative from the British embassy in Thailand.

“To have that kind of support made me really happy. I’m pleased these issues are getting attention, that’s what’s really important,” said Hall.

Hall said Natural Fruit filed a fresh, seventh charge against him on Tuesday – a civil charge for an additional 100 million Thai Baht (£1.9 million).

The first trial is for a criminal defamation charge, relating to this interview Hall gave to Al Jazeera, in which he described the conditions of migrant workers in Thailand. It will conclude on 10 September.

Hall said he felt confident the charges would be dropped: “I don’t see how this company can prove that I have bad intentions towards them.”

He continued: “I’ve been working in Thailand for 10 years and no-one’s ever threatened me with anything. So I think if I win this case it will be an inspirational moment for everybody who’s working on these issues, to make us feel that we can fight and we can stand up for people who are powerless.”

Despite only interviewing 12 workers for the Finnwatch report, Hall explained that his research team had undertaken two field trips to investigate conditions in the factory, and that believes the report reflected the situation at the time. “The interviews were just the last stage to follow up on what my team had told me. We were just reporting what the workers told us.”

Virat Piyapornpaiboon, the owner of Natural Fruit, rejected the allegations outside the court on Tuesday, telling AFP: “The report caused damage to me and my company. Any accusations were not true… If true, why are there so many workers who want to work at my factory?”

Hall, who was born in Lincolnshire, helped to write the report for Finnish NGO Finnwatch. It was published in January 2013.

Hall said that the British government is failing to help him retrieve his passport, which has been seized by the Thai court.

He said its removal was “irrational, unreasonable and unlawful” as he is a human rights defender and plans to attend the trials.

Hall wants to be able to return to Myanmar where he has lived for the last year. Before this he spent nearly a decade living in Thailand working to expose abuse of workers in the country.

“I want my passport back because the courts seized it on the basis that I was a flight risk, and I’m not. I came back to Thailand to defend my name and I’m not going to run away from this case.

“Anyone who knows anything about me knows I’m not going to run away.”

Hall says the UK embassy is “failing to implement” the UK government’s human rights defenders policy, under which he believes he is entitled to keep his passport.

“I’ve asked the British government to help and they said that the Thai government has the right to take my passport. International law says that someone can’t take your passport unless they have a reason, so I don’t agree with them. I’m not a criminal, you know.”

The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in London said the Thai court is entitled to keep possession of his passport until the cases are complete.

The FCO confirmed to Hall that he is regarded as a human rights defender, but has not replied to his further requests about his passport. – By Louise Ridley

Migrants Work in Poor Conditions in Thailand

Regional News

Thai Immigration Police Detain Over 26,000 Illegal Migrant Workers

Thailand’s Immigration Police have detained approximately 26,000 illegal migrant workers from Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia during an eight-day operation in Bangkok and surrounding regions, according to a Royal Thai Police spokesperson.

Mr Adisorn Keudmeuangkhon of the Bangkok-based Migrant Working Group said the drive was in response to an increasing number of concerns about an influx of illegal migrant labor.

“Some Thai people see that many illegal workers are competing for their job positions in the past few months,” he told me. “That’s why the ministry has to take tougher action.”

Civil strife in Myanmar and the recent implementation of a military conscription have driven thousands of Burmese into Thailand, while severe inflation and limited job opportunities in Laos have also encouraged an influx of workers from that country.

Between June 5 and 12, officials detained and checked 20,111 Myanmar laborers, 1,659 Laotian migrant workers, and 3,971 Cambodian workers, according to the Ministry of Labor.

It marked the start of a 120-day campaign to audit workplaces and arrest unlawful migrant workers, according to the government.

Migrant Workers to be Deported

According to Keudmeuangkhon, undocumented workers face fines ranging from 5,000 to 50,000 Thai baht (US $136 to $1,365), deportation, and a two-year prohibition on re-entering Thailand.

Authorities did not intend to file criminal charges, he claimed.

Authorities raided 1,774 workplaces, according to Moe Gyo, chairman of the Joint Action Committee on Burmese Affairs, which advocates for Myanmar labor rights.

He stated that since the military junta activated conscription, there has been an upsurge in the number of arrests of Myanmar citizens in Thailand who do not have a work permit identity card.

All men aged 18 to 35 and women aged 18 to 27 must serve in the military for at least two years. The first group of 5,000 conscripts summoned by Myanmar’s junta will start duty at the end of this month, military sources told AFP on Monday.

According to Keudmeuangkhon, the bulk of Lao migrant workers in Thailand work as fresh market shopkeepers, restaurant servers, and mall salespeople.

Most people visit Thailand as part of ASEAN’s visa-free policy for tourists, but they stay longer than the 30-day restriction once they find job.

“Employers like to hire Lao migrant workers in the service sector because they can speak fluent Thai,” he told me.

Immigration Police Detain Illegal Migrant Workers

The Thai Cabinet may approve an enhanced program for Thai employers to register their unauthorized foreign workers in July or August. Keudmeuangkhon explained.

Last month, the Thai Ministry of Labor’s Foreign Workers Administration office announced that 268,465 Lao migrant workers were officially working in Thailand.

Baykham Kattiya, Lao Minister of Labor, told Radio Free Asia earlier this month that there are 415,956 migrant workers in other nations, the majority of whom work in Thailand.

According to her, the Lao government believes that over 203,000 persons working outside of the nation lack proper work documents.

However, a Lao official familiar with the labor industry informed Radio Free Asia, a BenarNews-affiliated news station, on June 20 that the number of illegal Lao migrant workers in Thailand and abroad is likely significantly greater.

“They go to other countries as illegal migrant workers through different types of methods – as tourists or students,” said the politician. “Thus, it is hard for the immigration police to collect data on these people.”

Government Officials Responsible for Smuggling in Migrant Workers

Government Officials Responsible for Smuggling in Migrant Workers

News

High School Student Dies After Being Electrocuted By School Water Dispenser

14-year-old boy was electrocuted by a water dispenser: File Image

Thailand’s Office of Basic Education Commission has initiated an investigation into the electrocution of a 14-year-old student by a water dispenser in a high school. The event happened at noon on Friday, during the high school’s sports day. The victim was a Grade 8 student.

According to local media in Trang Province, the incident occurred when a teacher instructed the pupil to turn off a water dispenser amid a heavy rain.

According to a witness, the child collapsed while strolling with his friend near a water station. The friend claimed he attempted to assist but was also shocked by electricity.

According to reports, the friend then recovered, left the site, and requested assistance from teachers. A teacher ran to the scene and used a towel to pull the boy away by the ankle. He was taken to the hospital, but it was too late, they claimed.

The event sparked criticism from parents and netizens over school safety, as well as the slow response to aid the young youngster.

Mr. Chainarong Changrua, head of Trang-Krabi’s Secondary Educational Service Area Office, told local media on Sunday that forensic officers from Trang Provincial Police had visited the area. They discovered the blown breaker switch behind the water dispenser, he explained.

The breaker was burned out, thus the authorities assumed the disaster was caused by a short circuit that allowed energy to spill to a neighboring power pole. The student also appeared wet and was not wearing shoes when electrocuted.

According to the Office of Basic Education Commission, a probe team will complete its investigation this week.

The student’s father, Mr Pornchai Thepsuwan, 53, claimed he was saddened when he saw his son’s body. The boy (Wayu), was the youngest of two boys, he explained. He stated that following the tragedy, the school director and staff gave financial assistance to the families.

Mr Pornchai also said he would not seek charges against the institution because he believed it was an accident.

Electrical accidents in Thailand

Electrocution instances in Thailand have increased alarmingly in recent years. Many mishaps occur as a result of improper wiring and inadequate maintenance of electrical systems.

Public locations, such as schools and markets, frequently lack adequate safety precautions, putting individuals in danger. In rural areas, antiquated infrastructure exacerbates the situation, resulting in more frequent and serious events.

Although several high-profile cases have brought these challenges to light, genuine progress has been gradual. Furthermore, the rainy season heightens the likelihood of electrical accidents, as water and exposed wires do not mix well.

The government has made steps to strengthen safety standards, but enforcement is patchy. More education on electrical safety could help to reduce these accidents.

Unfortunately, better infrastructure and tougher rules may have prevented many of these incidents. The loss and injuries caused by electrocution are avoidable, emphasizing the need for immediate action.

Over 200 High School Students Facing Sedition Charges in Thailand

Over 200 High School Students Facing Sedition Charges in Thailand

News

Thailand’s Tourist Police Crackdown on Tourist Scammers in Pattaya

Tourist Police Pattaya: File Image

Thailand’s Tourist Police said it is collaborating with embassies from five countries to combat tourist scams and ten criminal gangs in Pattaya. The Tourist Police Bureau, convened a meeting on Thursday Pol Lt Gen Saksira Phuek-am told a press briefing.

Pol Lt Gen Saksira Phuek-am, the Tourist Police bureau commissioner said the participants included ambassadors from South Korea, Ukraine, Russia, India, and Switzerland.

He told the briefing the he had ordered a crackdown on tourist frauds, such as fraudulent or low-quality tour operators and unfair sales of goods and services. Stepped-up operations began on June 19 and will continue until June 25.

He stated that the agency was working with numerous organisations to increase tourists’ confidence in visiting Pattaya.

Gen Saksira spent time on the famed Walking Street speaking with officers on duty and assigned them to seek for members of ten criminal groups known to operate in Pattaya.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin will visit Chon Buri on Saturday to assess the tourism situation. He intends to visit the site of a future Formula One racecourse near Khao Phra Tamnak in Bang Lamung District.

Prime Minister Srettha recently met with Formula One organisers in Italy to examine the potential of including Thailand on the race schedule in the future.

On Sunday, the Prime Minister will pay a visit to Rayong’s U-tapao airport to discuss development on the airport’s land, with the goal of encouraging investment in the Eastern Economic Corridor.

Police Chief Reinstated

In other police news, Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol has been reinstated as national police chief following the conclusion of an investigation into a highly publicised quarrel, according to Wissanu Krea-ngam, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s counsellor.

Mr Wissanu released the investigation’s findings on Thursday, after the prime minister formed a fact-finding committee chaired by Chatchai Promlert to investigate into the quarrel between Pol Gen Torsak and his deputy, Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn.

The four-month study revealed conflicts and disorder at all levels of the Royal Thai Police, but it was unclear whether these issues arose from a single cause or several causes, according to Mr Wissanu.

The findings revealed that both Pol Gen Torsak and Pol Gen Surachate were involved, with each team contributing to the tensions, he noted.

Mr Wissanu indicated that Pol Gen Surachate was reinstated as deputy national police head on 18 April following his relocation to the Prime Minister’s Office on 20 March. A disciplinary committee was formed to investigate Pol Gen Surachate, and he was ordered temporarily suspended from the police force.

Because there were no further difficulties to explore, it was decided to restore Pol Gen Torsak. He plans to retire on September 30.

On March 20, Mr Srettha abruptly transferred both top police officers to the Prime Minister’s Office in an effort to address the growing schism within the police service.

Kitrat Panphet, Deputy National Police Chief, was subsequently named Acting Police Chief. According to sources, Pol Gen Surachate could face money laundering charges related to online gaming networks.

Source: Bangkok Post