CCCPRESS RELEASE

(Amsterdam) Today a labour court in Bangkok gaveBody Fashion Thailand, a wholly-owned subsidiaryof Triumph International, the green light in itseffort to dismiss union president Jitra Kotshadej.The company filed a case against Ms. Kotshadejin relation to her participation, during her privatetime, in a national television debate wearinga t-shirt with the text 'Those who do not standare not criminals. Thinking differently is nota crime.' The t-shirt refers to the right of peoplenot to stand when the royal anthem is played andthe abuse of lèse-majesté legislationto suppress political opposition. The companyclaims that her appearance damaged its reputation.

"By suing a union president, Triumph subsidiaryBody Fashion Thailand (BFT) denies the fundamentalright of freedom of expression" says TesselPauli, coordinator of the Clean Clothes Campaign."Although the company has every right todistance itself from Ms. Kotshadej's personalopinions, it has an obligation to support herright to express them."

The Clean Clothes Campaign is concerned aboutTriumph's misuse of the courts to take actionagainst a union leader, particularly when it isaimed at limiting her fundamental human right.The threat of legal action discourages workersfrom joining and being active in unions, and appealingan unfair court decision is very difficult forworkers, who rarely have the time and resourcesto pursue a lengthy legal battle.

Body Fashion Thailand first dismissed Ms. Kotshadejin July 2008. In response, more than 2000 of herco-workers laid down their work to demand herreinstatement. At the end of the 45-day strike,the company and the union agreed to a retrialof the dismissal case. Ms. Kotshadej did not havea chance to defend herself in the first trial,because the company never properly informed herof their charges against her. Ms. Kotshadej willappeal against the labour court order.

Triumph International's Code of Conduct explicitlysupports Article 19 of the U.N. Universal Declarationof Human Rights which states: "Everyone hasthe right to freedom of opinion and expression;this right includes freedom to hold opinions withoutinterference and to seek, receive and impart informationand ideas through any media and regardless offrontiers." The Code also explicitly supportsfreedom of association and prohibits acts of anti-uniondiscrimination as set out in ILO conventions.Despite the workers' strike and repeated requestsby Thai human rights groups and the Clean ClothesCampaign, Triumph refused to drop the case againstMs. Kotshadej.