“Firm’s ‘bullying’ response to labour claims sets dangerous precedent”, 30 June 2014

The lawsuit brought by a Thai pineapple exporter against a migrant rights advocate is a textbook example of a corporation trying to bully and intimidate its critics rather than scrutinise its own operations, according to supporters of the defendant. It also raises serious concerns about the independence of the Thai judicial system…Natural Fruit referred all questions regarding the lawsuit to its lawyer, Somsak Torugsa, who in turn declined to comment. In a statement…in May, Somsak said the firm refuted all allegations and intended to proceed with the case as planned…[T]he use of defamation laws by Natural Fruit in an effort to muzzle Andy Hall has been widely criticised by human rights watchdogs, adding even more weight to his statements about abuses at the company’s factories…