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Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
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." tak-sjc/pdw/dhw
Straits Times
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
‘Yellow shirts' return to Bangkok streets, demand Thai PM quit
The protest, held in scorching tropical heat, drew mostly elderly demonstrators wearing yellow shirts. PHOTO: REUTERS BANGKOK - Hundreds of anti-government protesters gathered outside Thailand's Government House on June 19, demanding Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra resign over a leaked phone call with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen that triggered public outrage. The scandal rocked Ms Paetongtarn's coalition after the Bhumjaithai party, a key partner, pulled out on the evening of June 18, accusing her of undermining the country and insulting the dignity of the military. The leaked call, in which Ms Paetongtarn referred to the Thai army's north-eastern commander as her opponent and addressed Mr 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,' Ms 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 Ms Paetongtarn a 'traitor', and chanted 'Get out!' and 'Go to hell!' while dozens of riot police stood nearby. Many in the crowd were long-time supporters of the conservative, pro-royalist 'Yellow Shirt' movement, which has fiercely opposed the Shinawatra political dynasty since the 2000s. Ms 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.' The battle between the conservative pro-royal establishment and Mr 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 Mr 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,' Ms Kanya told AFP. 'We are thinking long-term. It will be positive for the country.' AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Int'l Business Times
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
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." 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." Anti-government protesters demand Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra resign over a leaked phone call AFP The scandal rocked Paetongtarn's coalition after the Bhumjaithai party, a key partner, pulled out on Wednesday AFP Many in the crowd were longtime supporters of the conservative, pro-royalist "Yellow Shirt" movement AFP
Business Times
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Times
LGBTQ Thai ghost story wins prize in Cannes
[CANNES] Film director Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke, who won a top prize at the Cannes Festival on Wednesday, recruited a major influencer for his off-the-wall gay comedy with a political punch. In A Useful Ghost, Davika 'Mai' Hoorne - a model and actor with 18 million followers on Instagram - plays a woman who returns from the dead and haunts a vacuum cleaner to comfort her husband. The film features sexy ghosts and a brawl between electrical appliances, but is also a meditation on sweeping unpleasant political events under the carpet. It won the top prize in the Critics' Week sidebar section of Cannes film festival on Wednesday. In Thailand, LGBTQ love or coming-out stories are common, Ratchapoom told AFP during the festival. 'But I want queer characters to do more than that, to do more politics as well,' he said. 'We need more diverse queer stories to be told.' A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself. Sign Up Sign Up In his wacky satire, the ghost's in-laws are at first deeply displeased that she has returned, but then they put her to work hunting down another lost soul disturbing the family factory. A minister takes note of her talent, and brings her in to find and terminate the dissident ghosts that are haunting his home, including people killed in real-life deadly protests. In 2010, more than 90 people were killed, the vast majority of them civilians, when the army cracked down on so-called 'Red Shirt' protests demanding new elections after former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted in a coup. 'Very brave' After the demonstrations, there was 'a lot of debris, mess on the street and the city of Bangkok started this campaign to cleanse' it, the filmmaker said. People with water and brooms appeared out of nowhere 'to cleanse the blood, the dirt... all the evidence, and I found it pretty weird'. He recounted once reading a story about authorities cutting down a mango tree to ensure no one would remember an officer executing a suspected Communist under it. 'In Thailand, the state always tries to erase something they don't like,' he said. The film's lead actress Davika - who also starred as a ghost more than a decade ago in Thailand's highest-grossing film Pee Mak - is among his fans. You have to be 'very brave to shoot this kind of story, to speak up globally', she said. 'Because in Thailand, most of us are not allowed to say this,' she added, without elaborating. Thaksin, some of whose supporters were killed in 2010, returned from exile to Thailand in 2023, with his party taking over government that year and his daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra becoming prime minister the following year. He remains popular with his support base, but he has long been disliked by Thailand's pro-royalist and military establishment. Thaksin is due to appear in court in July in a royal defamation case. Thailand legalised same-sex marriage in January, the largest nation in Asia to do so. AFP
Int'l Business Times
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Int'l Business Times
LGBTQ Thai Ghost Story Turns Political In Cannes
Film director Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke felt Thailand's popular gay cinema needed to branch out and do more politics, so he enlisted one of the country's top influencers to help. In "A Useful Ghost", Davika "Mai" Hoorne -- a model and actor with 18 million followers on Instagram -- returns from the dead and haunts a vacuum cleaner to comfort her husband. The off-the-wall comedy features sexy ghosts and a brawl between electrical appliances, but is also a meditation on sweeping unpleasant political events under the carpet. In Thailand LGBTQ love or coming-out stories are common, Ratchapoom told AFP after his film premiered in the Critics' Week sidebar section at the Cannes Festival. "But I want queer characters to do more than that, to do more politics as well," he said. "We need more diverse queer stories to be told." In his wacky satire, the ghost's in-laws are at first deeply displeased that she has returned, but then they put her to work hunting down another lost soul disturbing the family factory. A minister takes note of her talent, and brings her in to find and terminate the dissident ghosts that are haunting his home, including people killed in real-life deadly protests. In 2010 more than 90 people were killed, the vast majority of them civilians, when the army cracked down on so-called "Red Shirt" protests demanding new elections after former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted in a coup. After the demonstrations, there was "a lot of debris, mess on the street and the city of Bangkok started this campaign to cleanse" it, the filmmaker said. People with water and brooms appeared out of nowhere "to cleanse the blood, the dirt... all the evidence, and I found it pretty weird." He recounted once reading a story about authorities cutting down a mango tree to ensure no one would remember an officer executing a suspected Communist under it. "In Thailand, the state always tries to erase something they don't like," he said. Ratchapoom's lead actress Davika -- who also starred as a ghost more than a decade ago in Thailand's highest grossing film "Pee Mak" -- is among his fans. You have to be "very brave to shoot this kind of story, to speak up globally," she said. "Because in Thailand, most of us are not allowed to say this," she added, without elaborating. Thaksin, some of whose supporters were killed in 2010, returned from exile to Thailand in 2023, with his party taking over government that year and his daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra becoming prime minister the following year. He remains popular with his support base, but he has long been disliked by Thailand's pro-royalist and military establishment. Thaksin is due to appear in court in July in a royal defamation case. Thailand legalised same-sex marriage in January, the largest nation in Asia to do so. Thai actress Davika Hoorne stars as a ghost who haunts a vacuum cleaner AFP
