In Bangkok, hundreds demonstrate in support of PM Paetongtarn’s resignation amid the growing Cambodia dispute
The largest anti-government demonstration in Thailand’s history has drawn hundreds of participants calling for PM Paetongtarn to resign over the country’s border conflict with Cambodia.
As anger grows over Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s handling of a deteriorating border dispute with Cambodia, hundreds of demonstrators flocked to Bangkok’s streets on Saturday to call for her resignation.
The protest, which took place at the city’s Victory Monument, is the biggest anti-government rally since the Pheu Thai Party took back control in 2023. The event, which is being organized by the United Force of the Land, a coalition of primarily nationalist activists, comes as Paetongtarn is dealing with mounting political and economic difficulties, such as an impending vote of no confidence and criticism from erstwhile coalition allies.
Waving Thai flags and yelling anti-government slogans, protesters charged the 38-year-old prime minister with compromising national sovereignty after a phone conversation with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen was leaked. Paetongtarn seemed to criticize a top Thai military commander during the call, which is generally seen as going too far in a nation where the military has significant political clout.
Even though Paetongtarn has expressed regret for her comments and written off the demonstration as a nonviolent demonstration of her democratic rights, her popularity among voters is still declining. She told reporters on Saturday, “I will not take revenge, and it is within people’s rights.”
The backlash comes after the Bhumjaithai Party abruptly left her alliance last week, claiming that the leaked conversation raised questions about Thailand’s sovereignty. When parliament meets again next week, the prime minister may be up against a confidence vote because the government now has a small majority.
A number of senators have increased the pressure by asking the National Anti-Corruption Commission and the Constitutional Court to look into her actions, which might lead to her dismissal.
A rare diplomatic rift has also been sparked by the aftermath. Hun Sen made an unexpected intervention in Thai internal politics on Friday, advocating for regime change in Thailand and launching a vicious personal assault on Paetongtarn and her family in a furious broadcast speech.
In response, Thailand’s foreign ministry called Hun Sen’s remarks “extraordinary” but reiterated that negotiation is still the nation’s preferred means of settling the conflict with Cambodia.
With investor confidence already damaged by the coalition split and regional tensions, political instability poses a threat to Thailand’s economic recovery. Fears of more political unrest have been raised by previous demonstrations against governments connected to Shinawatra, which resulted in military takeovers in 2014 and judicial interventions in 2006.
