Latest news with #borderDispute
Bloomberg
a day ago
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Thailand's Most Divisive Family May Have No More Moves Left
One man and his family have dominated Thailand's politics since the millennium. Billionaire Thaksin Shinawatra and his political dynasty have survived coups, corruption charges and constitutional court cases. This latest crisis may be harder to recover from. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Thaksin's youngest daughter, was temporarily suspended from office until the court rules on a petition seeking her ouster for alleged ethical violations, over the handling of a long-running border dispute with neighbor Cambodia.
Times of Oman
2 days ago
- Politics
- Times of Oman
Thailand: Prime Minister suspended over leaked Cambodia call
Bangkok: The Prime Minister of Thailand, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, was suspended by the country's constitutional court on Tuesday pending an investigation into a leaked phone call with a senior Cambodian politician. The judges voted 7 to 2 to suspend the 38-year-old prime minister after accepting a petition from 36 senators accusing her of dishonesty and a breach of ethical standards. Why has Thailand's prime minister been suspended? Paetongtarn has faced growing dissatisfaction over her handling of a border dispute with neighbouring Cambodia, which saw a Cambodian soldier killed in a violent clash in May. During a leaked June 15 phone call with Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen, Paetongtarn appeared to criticize an outspoken Thai army commander — considered a red line in a country where the military has significant clout. Despite apologizing and insisting that her remarks were a negotiating tactic, thousands of conservative, nationalist-leaning protesters rallied in central Bangkok on Saturday to demand the prime minister's resignation. "I only thought about what to do to avoid troubles, what to do to avoid armed confrontation, for the soldiers not to suffer any loss," she said. "I wouldn't be able to accept it if I said something with the other leader that could lead to negative consequences." Paetongtarn first has 15 days in which to provide evidence to the constitutional court to support her defense, in which time Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit is expected to become acting prime minister. "Government work doesn't stop, there is no problem," Tourism Minister and Pheu Thai Party Secretary-General Sorawong Thienthong told the Reuters news agency. "Suriya will become caretaker prime minister." Thai government under pressure However, the government has been left with only a wafer-thin majority after Paetongtarn's leaked call saw a key party abandon her coalition and threaten a no-confidence vote. Earlier on Tuesday, King Maha Vajiralongkorn endorsed cabinet reshuffle which should have seen Paetongtarn assume the position of culture minister in addition to prime minister. But it's unclear if she will be able to be sworn into the role during her suspension. She said on Monday that she would accept and follow the process but she didn't want to see her work interrupted. It's not the first time that Paetongtarn has faced allegations over ethics breaches; she is currently also under investigation by Thailand's Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission in a separate case. The Constitutional Court last year removed her predecessor over a breach of ethics while her father, the influential former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, was deposed in a military coup in 2006. Also on Tuesday, a spokeswoman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry insisted that would not comment on an "internal" Thai affair but said: "As a friendly neighbour, we hope that Thailand will maintain stability and development."
NHK
2 days ago
- Politics
- NHK
Thai court suspends PM Paetongtarn from duty
Thailand's Constitutional Court suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from duty on Tuesday as it proceeds with a petition demanding her resignation over a leaked phone call. The court said it had accepted a petition from 36 senators accusing Paetongtarn of violating ethical standards stipulated in the constitution over the call. Her premiership is suspended pending the final ruling and a deputy prime minister is expected to step in as caretaker. Paetongtarn has been facing backlash after her phone conversation with Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen was leaked. During their talk about border disputes, she seemed to disparage a Thai Army commander. The court order adds to political turmoil over the government's handling of the border issues with Cambodia and the phone call. Thousands of protesters gathered over the weekend, demanding that Paetongtarn step down. The latest survey shows that fewer than 10 percent of respondents thought she was suitable as a leader.
BreakingNews.ie
2 days ago
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Thai court suspends PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra over leaked phone call
Thailand's Constitutional Court has suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from office pending an investigation over a leaked phone call with a former Cambodian leader. The judges voted unanimously to take the petition accusing her of a breach of ethics, and voted seven to two to suspend her from duty. Advertisement Ms Paetongtarn has faced growing dissatisfaction over her handling of the latest border dispute with Cambodia, involving an armed confrontation on May 28 in which one Cambodian soldier was killed. The leaked phone call while she engaged in diplomacy over the border dispute set off a string of complaints and public protests. Ms Paetongtarn said on Monday she would accept and follow the court process although she did not want to see her work interrupted. 'If you ask me whether I'm worried, I am,' she told reporters. Paetongtarn Shinawatra is the youngest daughter of exiled former deposed Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra (AP) Earlier on Tuesday, King Maha Vajiralongkorn had endorsed a Cabinet reshuffle forced when a major party left Ms Paetongtarn's coalition government over the leaked phone call. Advertisement The reshuffle replaced former Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charvirakul, leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, which had held several Cabinet positions in her government. Ms Paetongtarn also faces investigations over an alleged breach of ethics by the Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission, whose decision could also lead to her removal. Outrage over the call mostly revolved around Ms Paetongtarn's comments toward an outspoken regional army commander and her perceived attempts to appease Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen to ease tensions at the border. Thousands of conservative, nationalist-leaning protesters rallied in central Bangkok on Saturday to demand Ms Paetongtarn's resignation. Advertisement
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Thai court suspends PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra over leaked phone call
Thailand's Constitutional Court suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from office pending an investigation over a leaked phone call with a former Cambodian leader. Advertisement The judges voted unanimously on Tuesday to take the petition accusing her of a breach of ethics and voted seven to two to suspend her from duty. Paetongtarn has faced growing dissatisfaction over her handling of the latest border dispute with Cambodia, involving an armed confrontation on May 28 in which one Cambodian soldier was killed. The leaked phone call while she engaged in diplomacy over the border dispute set off a string of complaints and public protests. The Constitutional Court last year removed her predecessor over a breach of ethics. Thailand's courts, especially the Constitutional Court, are viewed as a bulwark of the royalist establishment, which has used them and nominally independent agencies such as the Election Commission to cripple or sink political opponents. Paetongtarn also faces investigations over an alleged breach of ethics by the Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission, whose decision could also lead to her removal. Advertisement Outrage over the call mostly revolved around Paetongtarn's comments toward an outspoken regional army commander and her perceived attempts to appease Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen to ease tensions at the border.
