“Subject: Increased partnership in sustainability – Call for out-of-court settlement of the Thammakaset case”, 11 Jul 2017

…The Thammakaset legal case, which started in June 2016 when it was revealed that 14 migrant workers were working under illegal conditions, is an important litmus test. The Thammakaset poultry farm, a sub-supplier of Betagro, triggered legal proceeding against these migrant workers, the Migrant Workers Rights Network (MWRN), and Andy Hall in person for alleged defamation and computer crime. The Foreign Trade Association (FTA) and an important number of its members are closely following this legal proceeding. The freedom of expression is a fundamental right and victims of illegal labour practices and human rights defenders need to be able to openly voice their viewpoints and concerns. Therefore, we encourage both parties to fully exploit the possibility of an extra-judicial settlement of the case, as we firmly believe that the path of constructive and open dialogue should be privileged…