The South Bangkok Criminal Court has dismissed the criminal defamation lawsuit filed by the Lopburi-based chicken farm company Thammakaset against three human rights defenders for their postings on social media about alleged abuse of migrant workers at its farm.

Prosecutors in Thailand should immediately drop criminal defamation charges brought against three human rights defenders by Thammakaset Company for their support of other activists facing criminal charges, and the Thai government should repeal criminal defamation law and strengthen anti-SLAPP measures, said Human Rights Watch.

<p>On 12 September, South Bangkok Criminal Court accepted a defamation lawsuit filed by Thammakaset Co Ltd, the 39th of its kind, against Angkhana Neelapaijit, Puttanee Kangkun, and Thanaporn Saleephol over their tweets about labour rights violations at their farm.</p>