Thousands Rally in Bangkok Against Thai PM Following Controversial Call

In a significant display of discontent, thousands of protesters filled the streets of Bangkok amidst monsoon rains, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra following a leaked call with ex-Cambodian leader Hun Sen.

Thousands of demonstrators thronged the streets of Bangkok, urging the resignation of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra after a controversial leaked phone conversation with former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen ignited public fury. The call revealed Paetongtarn referring to Hun Sen as "uncle" while criticizing a Thai military commander's handling of a border dispute as merely an attempt to "look cool."

Despite her apology, Paetongtarn defended the conversation as a "negotiation technique" but faced intense backlash from the public. "It’s the people's right to protest, as long as it's peaceful," she stated before heading to visit flood-affected regions in northern Thailand. This protest was the largest since her ruling Pheu Thai party came to power in 2023, with demonstrators blocking roads at the iconic Victory Monument, brandishing Thai flags and banners that read "PM is enemy of state."

Protest leader Parnthep Pourpongpan argued that it's time for the Prime Minister to resign, asserting, "She is the problem." Veteran protester, 70-year-old Seri Sawangmue, traveled overnight to join the rally, declaring he aimed to safeguard Thailand's sovereignty and discredit Paetongtarn’s fitness as a leader. Many protesters voiced concerns that both the Prime Minister and her influential father were being manipulated by Hun Sen, a sentiment echoed by Parnthep.

The Prime Minister, the daughter of ousted leader Thaksin Shinawatra, has held office for only 10 months and is Thailand's second female prime minister. In a statement, the organizing coalition emphasized that the current executive branch and parliament are failing to uphold democracy and constitutional monarchy.

Amidst protest paraphernalia, individuals also carried umbrellas to shield themselves from the rain, and as the weather cleared, a rainbow graced the skies over Victory Monument. On Tuesday, the Constitutional Court is set to address a petition from senators seeking Paetongtarn’s removal for unprofessional behavior in relation to the Hun Sen call, which has added further pressure on the beleaguered Prime Minister amid an already tense diplomatic backdrop between Thailand and Cambodia.