Thailand
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations have been made to the government of Thailand regarding reports of a recent attempt by Thai police to persuade British citizen Andy Hall to sign a false confession.[HL4577]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): Officials at our Embassy in Bangkok, and in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in London, are fully aware of Mr Hall’s case and have been in regular contact with him since March 2013.
During his visit to Thailand in May 2013, the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Right Hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), 27 Jan 2014 : Column WA203 raised the case against Mr Hall with Thailand’s Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Jullapong Nonsrichai. Embassy staff have also raised the importance of Mr Hall receiving an independent trial with officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Following reports from Mr. Hall of the Thai police attempting to coerce him into the signing of a document of confession, our Ambassador to Thailand wrote to the Thai Ministry for Foreign Affairs expressing an interest in the case and raising concerns around the application of due process.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201314/ldhansrd/text/140127w0001.htm#14012716000288
Andy Hall 