English PEN joins PEN International in calling on the Thai authorities to drop all charges against migrant rights activist Andy Hall ahead of his court hearing on 19 May 2016.

Following a Bangkok court’s 18 January decision, Hall faces charges of criminal defamation and computer crimes in connection with a report published by Finnwatch in 2013. If convicted, he could face up to seven years in prison. PEN believes that the charges against Hall are directly linked to his peaceful and legitimate work as a migrant rights advocate and calls for all charges against him to be dropped immediately and unconditionally.

We are also seriously concerned about the ongoing use of criminal defamation and computer-crime laws to gag critical voices in Thailand, and urge the authorities to amend the Criminal Code to ensure that it meets their international obligations to protect freedom of expression, including by decriminalising defamation and insult.

For further background information, please visit the PEN International website.

English PEN is also campaigning for an end criminal defamation in Europe. Read Director Jo Glanville’s Newsweek article (26 April 2016) on the prosecution of the German comedian Jan Böhmermann, and the wider problem of criminal defamation laws across Europe.

Take action

• Share details of Andy Hall’s case on Facebook, Twitter and other social media: Andy Hall is on Twitter @atomicalandy and the hashtag is #FreeAndyHall

• Send messages of support to Andy Hall via the comments form below or by emailing [email protected]

• Write to the Thai authorities calling for the charges to be dropped (more details below)

Please send appeals:

• Calling for all charges against Andy Hall to be dropped as they are in direct violation of his right to freedom of expression in contravention of Articles 9 and 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Thailand is a state party;
• Reiterating serious concern over the use of criminal defamation and computer-crime laws to gag critical voices;
• Urging the authorities to amend the Criminal Code to ensure that it meets Thailand’s international obligations to protect freedom of expression, including by decriminalising defamation and insult.

Appeals to:

Leader of National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO)
General Prayuth Chan-ocha
Royal Thai Army Headquarters,
Rachadamnoen Nok Road,
Bangkok 10200,
Thailand
Fax: (+66-2) 226 1838
E-mail: [email protected]
Salutation: Dear General

Please also send copies of your appeals to the Thai Embassy in your country. Contact details for embassies can be found here.