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Labor group organizes litigation squad for Thais

The Taiwan International Workers' Association and a number of other human-rights groups formed a support group yesterday to provide legal assistance to the Thai laborers who were involved in the Aug. 21 riot.

The groups said that the riot by the Thai laborers was a protest against inhumane management and poor living conditions, and had directed public attention toward dire human-rights violations suffered by many foreign laborers.

Kaohsiung prosecutors have already looked into the riot and have interviewed suspects they claim were the ringleaders, the groups said.

They said they had decided to form the support group to speak up for the laborers.

They said many Thai laborers had been unfairly treated by their employers and that they often had no other recourse but to fight back. For this reason, they said, the workers should not be held criminally responsible.

They also expressed the hope that President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) would give amnesty to any Thai laborers prosecuted over the affair.

Support group convener Liao Yuan-hao (廖元豪) said his team would arrange for lawyers and translators to assist the laborers and that they would guide the laborers through the litigation process.

The groups also urged prosecutors to acquit the Thai laborers.

The Legal Aid Foundation has also said it will act on behalf of the laborers and demand that employers pay back-wages and provide assistance with litigation.
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