International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco & Allied Workers’ Associations adds voice to calls to drop charges against Andy Hall
“CONCERNS: The case against Mr Andy Hall and alleged human rights violations in Thailand’s fruit industry”, 25 August 2014
…Your letter characterizes the criminal and civil law suits brought by…Natural Fruit, against Andy Hall, as a “personal matter.” However, criminal prosecutions that result in State-sanctioned restrictions on liberty through bail requirements and which could result in a sentence of imprisonment are a public matter. It is our understanding that the complainant, Natural Fruit can withdraw the criminal charges against Andy Hall, and we urge TPIA to press Mr. Wirat Piyanpornpaiboon to do this…The IUF, like other organizations following this case, believes that the prosecution of Andy Hall is a misuse of the criminal law to punish the peaceful expression of views and information of public interest…