Thailand's 'Yellow Shirts' return to streets demand PM quit
Hundreds of anti-government protesters gathered outside Thailand's Government House on Thursday, demanding Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra resign over a leaked phone call with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen that triggered public outrage.
The scandal rocked Paetongtarn's coalition after the Bhumjaithai party, a key partner, pulled out on Wednesday, accusing her of undermining the country and insulting the dignity of the military.
The leaked call, in which Paetongtarn referred to the Thai army's northeastern commander as her opponent and addressed Hun Sen as "uncle" has drawn strong public backlash.
The protest, held in scorching tropical heat, drew mostly elderly demonstrators wearing yellow shirts -- the colour strongly associated with Thailand's monarchy -- who accused the 38-year-old leader of "lacking diplomatic skills" and "endangering national interests".
"I was very disappointed when I heard the (leaked) audio," Kanya Hanotee, 68, a temple worker told AFP.
"She lacks negotiation skills. Who does she think she is? This country is not hers."
Protesters waved Thai flags and placards labelling Paetongtarn a "traitor", and chanted "Get out!" and "Go to hell!" while dozens of riot police stood nearby.
Many in the crowd were longtime supporters of the conservative, pro-royalist "Yellow Shirt" movement, which has fiercely opposed the Shinawatra political dynasty since the 2000s.
Kaewta, 62, a housewife from Bangkok said she joined Yellow Shirt protests near Bangkok's Democracy Monument two decades ago.
"I didn't support any political party. All I knew was that I hated Thaksin and his family," she told AFP.
"Our politicians are all corrupt."
- 20-year battle -
The battle between the conservative pro-royal establishment and Thaksin's political movement backed by its own "Red Shirt" supporters has dominated Thai politics for more than 20 years.
Yellow Shirts, backed by Royalists and business elites, led 2008 protests that shut Bangkok's airports, stranded tourists, and helped topple a Thaksin-linked government.
In 2010, pro-Thaksin "Red Shirt" protesters rallied in Bangkok in opposition to the military-backed government, ending in a bloody crackdown that left more than 90 people dead.
"The power has been passed from her father to her aunt, and now to her," said Mek Sumet, 59, an electrical equipment seller who took part in the 2008 Don Mueang airport occupation.
"She doesn't think of the country but only of herself," he told AFP.
The kingdom has had a dozen coups since the end of absolute monarchy in 1932, and the current crisis has inevitably triggered rumours that another may be in the offing.
Despite Thailand's long history of coups, some protestors openly welcomed the idea of another military intervention.
"I want the military to take control," Kanya told AFP.
"We are thinking long-term. It will be positive for the country."
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Thailand files protest after Cambodian official leaks phone call
Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, is seen here at the Pheu Thai Party's headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand, in August 2024. She is currently facing blowback after a phone conversation between her and a Cambodian official was leaked online. File Photo by Rungroj Yongrit/EPA-EFE June 19 (UPI) -- Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Thursday that it will hand a letter of protest to Cambodia's government after a call between the two countries was allegedly leaked by a high-profile Cambodian official. In a press release, the Thai agency said "These actions taken by the Cambodian side are totally unacceptable. It is a breach of diplomatic etiquette, a serious violation of trust, and undermines conduct between two neighboring countries." The protest comes after Cambodian Senate President Samdech Hun Sen posted a call between himself and Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on Facebook Wednesday. The conversation took place Sunday and Paetongtarn allegedly criticized the Thai military and called Hun Sen "uncle." The call was held to discuss the ongoing border dispute between the nations, which has led to some conflict and the death of a Cambodian soldier last month. Paetongtarn can be heard in the call telling Hun Sen not to listen to public statements made by a Thai military official, and that if Hun Sen wants something, "he can just tell me, and I will take care of it." Paetongtarn publicly apologized Wednesday and said at a press conference the call went as it did because she was employing negotiation tactics, and that now she realizes the release of the call by Hun Sen is "political theater." Thailand's Foreign Affairs Ministry also accused Cambodia on Thursday of using social media "to gain popularity among their people and to divide society in both countries." Since the incident took place, Thai's Bhumjaithai party, a partner of the prime minister's administration, announced it left Paetongtarn's coalition Wednesday, which makes it much more difficult for her Pheu Thai party's ability to maintain its control. Hun Sen was the top Cambodian leader for nearly 40 years, and despite having stepped down in 2023 and putting his son, Hun Manet, in charge. He remains a powerful political figure in his country, though He also is a long-time ally of Paetongtarn's father, former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and her calling Hun Sen "uncle" has fueled her critics who said she appeared to be unacceptably deferential to him during the call.
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Russian court sentences actor to 17 years in prison for railway sabotage
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