Thailand Protesters Demand Prime Minister Paetongtarn’s Resignation Over Leaked Call With Hun Sen
By Nia Kwame - Politics - June 28 2025
WafricNews – June 28, 2025
Bangkok, Thailand – Tensions flared in Bangkok on Saturday as hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets, demanding the immediate resignation of Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra over a leaked phone call with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen.
The controversial call—made public earlier this month—has triggered political fallout in Thailand, deepened regional distrust, and fractured Paetongtarn’s already fragile governing coalition.
The Leak That Sparked the Flames
The anger stems from a June 15 phone call in which Paetongtarn allegedly urged Hun Sen, Cambodia’s former prime minister and current Senate president, to ignore criticism from a prominent Thai army general.
The general had been vocal following a May 28 border clash that left one Cambodian soldier dead in a contested area. In the leaked audio, Paetongtarn is heard dismissing the general as someone who “just wants to look cool”—a comment that many in Thailand’s military establishment saw as undermining national integrity.
Protesters gather at Victory Monument demanding Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra resign, in Bangkok, Thailand
Protesters Rally Around the Flag—and the Monarchy
Protesters flooded Victory Monument, waving Thai flags and hoisting signs accusing Paetongtarn of betrayal. Many of the leaders at Saturday’s rally were members of the “Yellow Shirts”, a pro-monarchy group historically opposed to the Shinawatra political dynasty.
“This is not just about a phone call,” said one protester. “It’s about who truly stands for Thailand.”
The Yellow Shirts have played pivotal roles in Thai politics before—fueling mass demonstrations that led to the military coups which ousted Thaksin Shinawatra in 2006 and Yingluck Shinawatra in 2014. Thaksin is Paetongtarn’s father; Yingluck is her aunt.
Cambodia Responds: “We Will Defend Our Land”
In Cambodia, Hun Sen responded forcefully. Speaking at the 74th anniversary of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party, he accused Thailand of an illegal military incursion during the border clash and declared that Cambodia would defend its territory “from foreign invasion.”
“This poor Cambodia has suffered much—war, genocide, isolation—but we will not be bullied,” Hun Sen told thousands in Phnom Penh.
Political Fallout in Bangkok
The scandal has shaken the core of Paetongtarn’s 10-party coalition. Her Pheu Thai Party lost its largest ally, the Bhumjaithai Party, leaving her coalition barely clinging to power with 255 out of 500 parliamentary seats.
Worse still, Paetongtarn is now facing possible suspension and legal scrutiny from Thailand’s Constitutional Court and the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC).
“We are investigating a serious ethical breach related to the Hun Sen call,” said Sarote Phuengrampan, secretary-general of the NACC.
The Constitutional Court could decide as early as next week whether to take up the case—and potentially suspend Paetongtarn from office during the investigation.
PM Defiant But Under Pressure
Despite mounting calls for her resignation, Paetongtarn has maintained her innocence.
“I had nothing to gain, and I caused no harm to the country,” she told reporters earlier this week. “I’m ready to present my side.”
She may need to do so sooner than expected. Her predecessor—also from Pheu Thai—was ousted last year by the same court for an ethics violation.
Regional History Weighs Heavy
Thailand and Cambodia share a long and rocky border history, most notably the decades-old dispute surrounding the Preah Vihear temple. A 1962 ruling by the International Court of Justice awarded the sacred site to Cambodia, a decision Thailand has never fully accepted. Armed skirmishes flared as recently as 2011—when Paetongtarn’s aunt Yingluck was in office.
Now, as tensions resurface, the region watches closely.
WafricNews continues to monitor the political fallout in Bangkok and Phnom Penh. For updates on this developing story and broader Southeast Asian affairs, stay tuned.
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