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Hans India
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Thailand: Protesters call for PM's resignation as demonstrations erupt after leaked phone call
Bangkok: After a phone call between Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and the former Cambodian leader Hun Sen was leaked, thousands of protestors gathered in the Thai capital, Bangkok and demanded the Prime Minister's resignation. Shinawatra was heard addressing Hun Sen as 'uncle' in the phone call along with making a comment on a Thai military commander handling the dispute saying, 'just wanted to look cool and said things that are not useful', which sparked public anger, also resulting a key partner in her ruling coalition, to quit. Shinawatra defended herself, saying that the call was a 'negotiation technique', while apologising. Before leaving to visit flood-hit northern Thailand, Shinawatra told reporters it is the people's "right to protest, as long as it's peaceful". Thousands of protestors gathered around the 'Victory Monument War Memorial' in Bangkok, waving flags, holding placards with slogans like 'PM is the enemy of the state', braving through monsoon. BBC reported that the rally was the largest of its kind since the ruling Pheu Thai party came to power in 2023. The Prime Minister should 'step aside' because 'she is the problem', said Protest leader Parnthep Pourpongpan. The United Force of the Land, a coalition of national activists, organised the rally. They have been seen to have protested against other Shinawatra-led governments as well for over two decades. They also read out in a statement that the executive and the Parliament were not working in the 'interest of democracy and constitutional monarchy' to the crowd gathered for the rally. The Constitutional Court will decide on Tuesday whether to take up a petition by senators seeking Shinawatra's removal for alleged unprofessionalism over the Hun Sen call, or not. Hun Sen stated that he had shared the audio clip with 80 politicians, and one of them allegedly leaked it. He later shared the entire 17-minute recording on his Facebook page, where it can be heard that the call was about a recent dispute between Thailand and Cambodia, which in turn has led to an increase in tensions between the nations after the death of a Cambodian soldier in a border clash.
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First Post
29-06-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Thousands gather in Bangkok to demand resignation of Thai PM over leaked phone call scandal
Over 10,000 people took to the streets of Bangkok to stage a protest, demanding the resignation of Thailand's Prime Minister Shinawatra after a phone call of her speaking to a former Cambodian leader was leaked amid the border dispute. read more Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Bangkok to demand the resignation of Thailand's Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra. Discontent among the public became more significant after the Thai premier's phone calls with a former Cambodian leader were leaked. It is important to note that Shinawatra has faced growing pressure over her handling of a border dispute with neighbouring Cambodia that flared in May. The two neighbouring nations got involved in a new row after a Cambodian soldier was killed during a brief exchange of fire at the border. Not only this, her government was thrown into crisis after a phone call in which she discussed the matter with the former Cambodian leader Hun Sen was made public earlier this month. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In the recording, she could be heard speaking to the senior Thai military officer and addressing Hun Sen as 'uncle'. The Thai premier was also heard telling the Cambodian veteran that if there was anything he wanted, she would 'take care of it.' The phone call infuriated the Thai nationalists, who accused her of kowtowing to Hun Sen. Protesters demand Shinawatra's resignation On Saturday, protesters gathered and waved Thai flags, changing 'Ung Ing, get out', which is the prime minister's nickname. Some even held signs accusing the prime minister of betraying the nation, calling her 'traitor PM' and 'sellout PM'. Police estimated that 6,000 people had turned out for the protests by afternoon, but the latest estimate was that the crowd surpassed 10,000, Bangkok Post reported. This easily made the demonstrations the largest rally since the ruling Pheu Thai party came to power in 2023. 'We are not gathering here to cause trouble,' said Jade Donavanik, a legal scholar who addressed crowds. 'We are united here by the force of nature to safeguard our national and territorial integrity, to protect our sovereignty and to set the country right. We shall do everything within our capabilities to protect this country and to bring peace and prosperity to the kingdom of Thailand.' Interestingly, many of those who gathered at the protest were associated with movements that previously rallied against Paetongtarn's father, Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 coup, and her aunt Yingluck, who was removed from power by a court ruling followed by a coup in 2014. United Force of the Land, the organisers of the protest, called for all parties to withdraw from Paetongtarn's coalition. Earlier this month, a coalition partner quit, citing the controversial phone call. This leaves the Thai premier with a thin majority. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Meanwhile, Paetongtarn is also facing judicial threats, after petitions were filed accusing her of ethical violations and breaching the constitution regarding the leaked call. Amidst the chaos, Paetongtarn has apologised for the phone call, though this has done little to halt criticism.
Yomiuri Shimbun
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Thousands Demand Thai Prime Minister Quit over Border Dispute
BANGKOK, June 28 (Reuters) – Thousands of protesters rallied in the Thai capital Bangkok on Saturday to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, piling pressure on a government at risk of collapse over a border dispute with neighbouring Cambodia. In the largest such rally since the ruling Pheu Thai party came to power in 2023, crowds braved heavy monsoon rain to demonstrate against Paetongtarn, 38, who is also battling to revive a faltering economy and keep a fragile coalition together ahead of a potential no confidence vote next month. 'She should step aside because she is the problem,' Parnthep Pourpongpan, a protest leader, said. The latest dispute started with a skirmish between Thailand and Cambodia over a disputed patch of border territory in May. Thai nationalist groups called for Paetongtarn to go after she appeared to criticize a Thai army commander and kowtow to Cambodia's former leader, Hun Sen, in a leaked phone call with him. Public criticism of the army is a red line in a country where the military has significant clout. Paetongtarn apologised for her comments after the call. Parnthep, the protest leader, said many Thai people felt the prime minister and her influential father, Thaksin Shinawatra, were being manipulated by Hun Sen, a former ally of the family who has turned against them. 'UNG ING, GET OUT' Blocking the busy intersection at Victory Monument, a war memorial, crowds including many elderly people waved flags bearing Thailand's national tricolor. 'Ung Ing, get out,' the crowd occasionally chanted in unison, calling the premier by a nickname. Thapanawat Aramroong, 73, said Paetongtarn's comments about the army commander and seeming eagerness to please Hun Sen were unacceptable. The demonstration was organised by the United Force of the Land, a coalition of largely nationalist activists who have rallied against other Shinawatra-backed governments over the last two decades. In a statement read aloud before the crowds, the group said 'the executive branch' and parliament were not working 'in the interest of democracy and constitutional monarchy'. Remaining coalition partners should quit immediately, they said. While past protests against the Shinawatras did not directly cause the downfall of those governments, they built up pressure that led to judicial interventions and military coups in 2006 and 2014. Protester Somkhuan Yimyai, 68, said he did not want the military to end up staging a coup and that previous military takeovers had not 'provided solutions for the nation in terms of solving corruption or the government's administration of the country.' ECONOMIC TURMOIL The political turmoil in Thailand threatens to further damage the country's struggling economic recovery. The prime minister now controls a slim majority coalition following the exit of former partner Bhumjaithai Party last week. Protesters on Saturday called for other coalition partners to quit. Paetongtarn also faces judicial scrutiny after a group of senators petitioned the Constitutional Court and a national anti-graft body with a wide remit to investigate her conduct over the leaked phone call. Decisions from either bodies could lead to her removal. Hun Sen also launched an unprecedented public attack on Paetongtarn and her family, calling for a change of government, in an hours-long televised speech on Friday, which the Thai foreign ministry described as 'extraordinary' while insisting that Thailand prefers to use diplomacy.
AsiaOne
29-06-2025
- Politics
- AsiaOne
Thousands demand Thai prime minister quit over border dispute, Asia News
BANGKOK - Thousands of protesters rallied in the Thai capital Bangkok on Saturday (June 28) to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, piling pressure on a government at risk of collapse over a border dispute with neighbouring Cambodia. In the largest such rally since the ruling Pheu Thai party came to power in 2023, crowds braved heavy monsoon rain to demonstrate against Paetongtarn, 38, who is also battling to revive a faltering economy and keep a fragile coalition together ahead of a potential no confidence vote next month. "She should step aside because she is the problem," Parnthep Pourpongpan, a protest leader, said. The latest dispute started with a skirmish between Thailand and Cambodia over a disputed patch of border territory in May. Thai nationalist groups called for Paetongtarn to go after she appeared to criticise a Thai army commander and kowtow to Cambodia's former leader, Hun Sen, in a leaked phone call with him. Public criticism of the army is a red line in a country where the military has significant clout. Paetongtarn apologised for her comments after the call. Parnthep, the protest leader, said many Thai people felt the prime minister and her influential father, Thaksin Shinawatra, were being manipulated by Hun Sen, a former ally of the family who has turned against them. 'Ung Ing, get out' Blocking the busy intersection at Victory Monument, a war memorial, crowds including many elderly people waved flags bearing Thailand's national tricolor. "Ung Ing, get out," the crowd occasionally chanted in unison, calling the premier by a nickname. Thapanawat Aramroong, 73, said Paetongtarn's comments about the army commander and seeming eagerness to please Hun Sen were unacceptable. The demonstration was organised by the United Force of the Land, a coalition of largely nationalist activists who have rallied against other Shinawatra-backed governments over the last two decades. In a statement read aloud before the crowds, the group said "the executive branch" and parliament were not working "in the interest of democracy and constitutional monarchy". Remaining coalition partners should quit immediately, they said. While past protests against the Shinawatras did not directly cause the downfall of those governments, they built up pressure that led to judicial interventions and military coups in 2006 and 2014. Protester Somkhuan Yimyai, 68, said he did not want the military to end up staging a coup and that previous military takeovers had not "provided solutions for the nation in terms of solving corruption or the government's administration of the country." Economic turmoil The political turmoil in Thailand threatens to further damage the country's struggling economic recovery. The prime minister now controls a slim majority coalition following the exit of former partner Bhumjaithai Party last week. Protesters on Saturday called for other coalition partners to quit. Paetongtarn also faces judicial scrutiny after a group of senators petitioned the Constitutional Court and a national anti-graft body with a wide remit to investigate her conduct over the leaked phone call. Decisions from either bodies could lead to her removal. Hun Sen also launched an unprecedented public attack on Paetongtarn and her family, calling for a change of government, in an hours-long televised speech on Friday, which the Thai foreign ministry described as "extraordinary" while insisting that Thailand prefers to use diplomacy. [[nid:719520]]
See - Sada Elbalad
28-06-2025
- Politics
- See - Sada Elbalad
Protesters in Thailand Demand PM Resignation
Israa Farhan Tens of thousands of demonstrators flooded the streets of Bangkok, Thailand, on Saturday, calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra over her handling of a volatile border dispute with Cambodia. Despite heavy monsoon rains, Bangkok police estimated the turnout at over 17,000. The protest, led by the nationalist group United Force of the Land, saw crowds chanting for Shinawatra, nicknamed "Ung Ing", to step down, accusing her of undermining national sovereignty. The unrest follows a deadly military skirmish on May 28 near the disputed Preah Vihear temple, a centuries-old sacred site claimed by both Thailand and Cambodia. The clash resulted in the death of a Cambodian soldier and reignited nationalist tensions in Thailand. Public outrage intensified after a leaked phone call between Shinawatra and Cambodia's former prime minister Hun Sen surfaced. In the conversation, meant to ease diplomatic tensions, the Thai leader referred to Hun Sen as 'uncle' and described a Thai military commander stationed near the border as her 'opponent'—remarks that critics saw as deferential and inappropriate. Although Shinawatra issued a formal apology, the damage to her reputation was done. Protesters and political commentators alike argue that her conduct reflects a lack of resolve and compromised leadership during a sensitive territorial dispute. Cambodia has reiterated its claim to the Preah Vihear temple, a stance supported by the 1962 International Court of Justice ruling and reaffirmed in 2013. On Saturday, during a speech marking the 74th anniversary of Cambodia's ruling party, Hun Sen condemned the Thai military's actions as a violation of Cambodian sovereignty, invoking Cambodia's history of foreign occupation and resistance. The Shinawatra family has long been a lightning rod in Thai politics, with previous administrations led by family members frequently challenged by mass protests and coups. Saturday's demonstrations mark a renewed chapter in Thailand's ongoing struggle between nationalist movements and populist leadership. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan Technology 50-Year Soviet Spacecraft 'Kosmos 482' Crashes into Indian Ocean
