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British labour activist Andy Hall in Thailand trial British labour activist Andy Hall in Thailand trial
(about 4 hours later)
A British activist who campaigns for better working conditions is set to go on trial in Thailand charged with criminal defamation. A British activist who campaigns for better working conditions has gone on trial in Thailand for defamation.
The alleged offence is one of a series of charges relating to a report into labour abuses which Andy Hall helped write two years ago. The alleged offence is one of a series of charges relating to a report by a Finnish watchdog group last year which Andy Hall helped to write.
He was charged after a complaint by one of the Thai food companies he wrote about. He was charged after a complaint by Thailand's Natural Fruit Company, one of the companies he wrote about.
Mr Hall's website says he faces up to seven years in prison if found guilty. Mr Hall could be jailed for a year if found guilty, but he also faces other charges that carry longer jail terms.
The report he helped to write claimed that Thailand's Natural Fruit Company, the country's largest producer of pineapples, mistreated its workers. The report he helped to write, for the group Finnwatch, claimed that Natural Fruit Company, the country's largest producer of pineapples, mistreated its workers.
BBC south-east Asia correspondent Jonathan Head said a number of European retail and labour organisations had called on the company to withdraw its complaint and "investigate the allegations against it instead". Defamation is a criminal offence in Thailand and he could be jailed for up to a year.
He said Thailand had grown to become one of the world's biggest food producers, but it had an "image problem" and had been criticised for the treatment of migrant workers. But Mr Hall is also facing charges under the computer crime act, which can result in seven years in jail. On top of that the company is seeking $10 million (£6 million) in a civil suit.
Mr Hall is standing by his report and has told reporters that the charges against him amount to "judicial harassment".
The BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok says a number of European retail and labour organisations have called on Natural Fruit to withdraw its charges and instead investigate Mr Hall's claims.
Thailand has grown to become one of the world's biggest food producers, but it has been criticised for the treatment of migrant workers.
This year Thailand was downgraded by the US to the lowest level on its annual list of countries that tolerate human trafficking.This year Thailand was downgraded by the US to the lowest level on its annual list of countries that tolerate human trafficking.
The frequent use of the criminal defamation law in Thailand to silence critics has been condemned by human rights groups, our correspondent added. The frequent use of the criminal defamation law in Thailand to silence critics has been condemned by human rights groups, says our correspondent.
Thailand relies significantly on migrant workers from neighbouring Myanmar and Cambodia, but news agencies say that some do not have legal papers and many work long hours for pay that is lower than what Thai workers receive.
Tens of thousands of Cambodian workers in Thailand fled home across the border in June, prompted by fears that the new military government would crack down on migrants.