This week fourteen migrant workers in Thailand pleaded not guilty to charges of defamation brought by the Thammakaset chicken farm where they had been working. The ‘crime’ of these Burmese workers was to have complained to the National Human Rights Commission over their terrible conditions that they were employed under. This case is related to the ongoing criminal cases against labour researcher Andy Hall, who had to flee Thailand to avoid arrest. An open letter by almost 100 Thai civil society groups called on the Thai government to de-criminalise the defamation law. In the same week, Thailand’s dictator, General Prayuth Chan-ocha, visiting the USA to discuss ways to increase economic and military ties between the two countries.
This week fourteen migrant workers in Thailand pleaded not guilty to charges of defamation brought by the Thammakaset chicken farm where they had been working. The ‘crime’ of these Burmese workers was to have complained to the National Human Rights Commission over their terrible conditions that they were employed under. This case is related to the ongoing criminal cases against labour researcher Andy Hall, who had to flee Thailand to avoid arrest. An open letter by almost 100 Thai civil society groups called on the Thai government to de-criminalise the defamation law. In the same week, Thailand’s dictator, General Prayuth Chan-ocha, visiting the USA to discuss ways to increase economic and military ties between the two countries.
