More than 10,000 individuals gathered in the streets of Bangkok to organize a protest, calling for the resignation of Thailand’s Prime Minister Shinawatra following the leak of a phone conversation she had with a former Cambodian leader during the ongoing border dispute.
Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Bangkok to call for the resignation of Thailand’s Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra. Public discontent intensified following the leak of her phone conversations with a former Cambodian leader. It is crucial to highlight that Shinawatra has been under increasing scrutiny regarding her management of a border conflict with neighboring Cambodia that escalated in May.
The two bordering countries became embroiled in a new dispute after a Cambodian soldier was killed during a brief exchange of gunfire at the border. Furthermore, her administration faced a crisis after a phone call in which she discussed the situation with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen was made public earlier this month.
In the recording, she was heard conversing with a senior Thai military officer and referring to Hun Sen as “uncle.” The Thai premier was also heard assuring the Cambodian veteran that if he needed anything, she would “take care of it.” This phone call enraged Thai nationalists, who accused her of submitting to Hun Sen.
Protesters demand Shinawatra’s resignation On Saturday, demonstrators gathered, waving Thai flags and chanting “Ung Ing, get out,” which is the prime minister’s nickname. Some even displayed signs accusing her of betraying the nation, labeling her as “traitor PM” and “sellout PM.”
Police estimated that 6,000 individuals had participated in the protests by the afternoon, but the latest figures indicated that the crowd exceeded 10,000, according to the Bangkok Post. This easily made the protests the largest rally since the ruling Pheu Thai party assumed power in 2023. “We are not gathering here to create chaos,” stated Jade Donavanik, a legal scholar who spoke to the crowds.
“We are united here by the force of nature to protect our national and territorial integrity, to uphold our sovereignty, and to rectify the country. We will do everything within our power to safeguard this nation and to bring peace and prosperity to the kingdom.
Interestingly, a significant number of individuals who participated in the protest were linked to movements that had previously opposed Paetongtarn’s father, Thaksin Shinawatra, who was removed from power in a coup in 2006, as well as her aunt Yingluck, who was ousted by a court decision followed by a coup in 2014.
The United Force of the Land, the organizers of the protest, urged all parties to withdraw from Paetongtarn’s coalition. Earlier this month, a coalition partner resigned, citing the contentious phone call. This situation has left the Thai premier with a precarious majority.
In the meantime, Paetongtarn is also confronting legal challenges, as petitions have been submitted accusing her of ethical misconduct and violating the constitution in relation to the leaked call. In the midst of this turmoil, Paetongtarn has expressed regret for the phone call, although this has done little to mitigate the ongoing criticism.
