Pineapple whistle-blower faces tough punishment
| 31 Aug 2014: posted by the editor - Human Rights, International, Thailand | |
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Whistle-blower Andy Hall exposed multiple human rights abuses including child labor in a Thai pineapple factory and now faces up to eight years in prison and a $10million fine. Andy was brave enough to take on Natural Fruit Ltd, one of the biggest pineapple producers and exporters in Thailand, and reveal the company’s abuse of migrant workers. But now Natural Fruit Ltd. is striking back—hard. Andy’s British passport has already been taken, and his bogus defamation trial starts in less than three days. But there’s still hope to secure his freedom. Natural Fruit’s president is also the chair of the Thai Pineapple Industry Association (TPIA)—where global fruit giant Dole is an influential member. Dole could use its influence to push for the charges to be dropped—but so far it has stood silent. Last week, nearly 100 human rights and labor organizations, including Human Rights Watch and unions around the world, spoke out in support of Andy and called on the TPIA and its members to push Natural Fruit Ltd. to drop the charges against Andy. Andy's research helped expose gross labour rights violations including child labour, passport confiscation, forced work, violence in Natural Fruit's factory. But TPIA’s response was despicable: the association not only refused to help, it also further threatened Andy for his work protecting migrant workers. |
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