The protest at Victory Monument was the largest since the Pheu Thai party came to power in 2023. Despite heavy monsoon rains, demonstrators waved Thai flags and held placards reading “PM is enemy of state
By Titilope Adako
Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Bangkok on Saturday, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra following a leaked phone call with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen.
In the call, Paetongtarn referred to Hun Sen as “uncle” and criticised a Thai military commander involved in a border dispute, saying he “just wanted to look cool and said things that are not useful.” The remarks triggered widespread outrage.
Although she later apologised, Paetongtarn defended her approach as a “negotiation technique”. Speaking to reporters before leaving for a flood-affected area in northern Thailand, she said citizens had the right to protest “as long as it’s peaceful”.
The protest at Victory Monument was the largest since the Pheu Thai party came to power in 2023. Despite heavy monsoon rains, demonstrators waved Thai flags and held placards reading “PM is enemy of state.”
Protest leader Parnthep Pourpongpan declared, “She should step aside because she is the problem.”
Seri Sawangmue, 70, travelled overnight from northern Thailand to join the rally. “I’ve lived through many political crises and I know where this is going,” he told AFP. “I’m here to protect Thailand’s sovereignty and to say the PM is unfit.”
Paetongtarn later announced she would no longer speak with Hun Sen. However, Parnthep accused her and her father, former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, of being manipulated by the former Cambodian leader.
The prime minister, aged 38, is the daughter of Thaksin Shinawatra and niece of former PM Yingluck Shinawatra. She has held office for 10 months, making her Thailand’s second female prime minister.
The rally was organised by a long-standing coalition opposed to Shinawatra-led governments. The group said the current executive and parliament were not upholding democratic or constitutional values.
As the rain cleared, a rainbow appeared over Victory Monument, where protesters stood with umbrellas, flags, and banners.
The Constitutional Court is expected to decide on Tuesday whether to hear a petition filed by senators seeking Paetongtarn’s removal over her conduct in the call.
Hun Sen said he had shared the phone conversation with 80 politicians, and that one of them leaked it. He later published the full 17-minute clip on Facebook.
The call focused on a recent border clash that led to the death of a Cambodian soldier and worsened diplomatic relations between the two nations. Cambodia has since imposed bans on Thai imports, including food, electricity, and entertainment.
Despite the strained relations, the Shinawatra and Hun families share decades-long ties. Hun Sen and Thaksin refer to each other as “godbrothers.”
Protesters have now renewed calls for an end to the Shinawatra political dynasty.
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