Latest news with #ThailandProtests
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Thousands of protesters take to streets demanding Thai prime minister's resignation over leaked phone call
Thousands of protesters gathered in Bangkok demanding prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra's resignation after a leaked phone call between her and former Cambodian leader Hun Sen sparked public outrage. The rally, the largest since her party took power in 2023, was led by long-time opponents of the Shinawatra political dynasty, accusing her government of failing to uphold democratic principles. Protesters claim Ms Paetongtarn is being influenced by Hun Sen and her father, Thaksin Shinawatra. Undeterred by the monsoon rain, thousands of demonstrators gathered at the Victory Monument in Bangkok on Saturday, blocking roads, waving Thai flags and holding placards with slogans like 'PM is enemy of state'. Protest leader Parnthep Pourpongpan declared that Ms Paetongtarn 'should step aside because she is the problem', according to BBC News. Ms Paetongtarn, 38, is the daughter of ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who returned to Thailand last August after 15 years in exile. In office for just 10 months, she is the country's second female prime minister, following in the footsteps of her aunt, Yingluck Shinawatra. The campaign group – the United Power of the Land to Protect Sovereignty group – vowed to intensify its campaign against the prime minister after a surprisingly large crowd joined their rally at Bangkok's Victory Monument on Saturday, The Bangkok Post reported. The group has also rejected claims by the Pheu Thai Party and others that they are advocating for a military coup. Besides demanding the prime minister's immediate resignation, the group has called for all coalition parties to withdraw from the government. In a statement, the group accused the executive branch and parliament of failing to act 'in the interest of democracy and constitutional monarchy', according to Reuters. Veteran Thai protest leader Sondhi Limthongkul told supporters he does not want the political crisis to escalate into another military coup, but added he 'won't object if the military does something', The Bangkok Post reported. Speaking to thousands at Bangkok's Victory Monument on Saturday evening, he said: 'Do not bring in those generals [to govern]. Let people like us in [the government],' he said. Mr Sondhi told the crowd: 'If we forget history, we are doomed to repeat it. Twenty years ago, I stood on a stage calling for Thaksin to step down. Now, two decades later, I'm forced to call for his daughter's resignation.' 'This is not the last protest. If change must come from the streets again, then so be it.' In the call with Hun Sen, Ms Paetongtarn appeared to blame Thailand's military for escalating border tensions with Cambodia and used a conciliatory tone, including referring to Mr Hun Sen as 'uncle'. The call came after a border dispute escalated into an armed clash on 28 May in a small piece of no man's land claimed by both countries. The clash resulted in the death of a Cambodian soldier. The call, leaked after the former Cambodian leader reportedly distributed it to some 80 politicians, outraged nationalists in Thailand and led to the Bhumjaithai party, Ms Paetongtarn's largest coalition partner, quitting the government and bringing it near collapse. The Thai prime minister has publicly apologised for the leaked call and insisted that it was a negotiation tactic, but critics claim it undermined Thailand's national sovereignty. The two countries share a thorny relationship, especially over border disputes. 'I would like to apologise for the leaked audio of my conversation with a Cambodian leader, which has caused public resentment,' Ms Paetongtarn said earlier. Hun Sen, on his part, had taken to Facebook to share the entire phone conversation 'to avoid any misunderstanding or misrepresentation in official matters'. Ms Paetongtarn explained that the call to Hun Sen was made from her personal phone, and she had no knowledge it was being recorded or would be made public. She said her government remained fully committed to supporting the Thai military. The Shinawatra family in Thailand and the Hun family in Cambodia have long-standing personal ties, reportedly referring to each other as 'godbrothers'. Critics in Thailand see this closeness as compromising Thai interests, particularly in sensitive border negotiations. Meanwhile, support for Ms Paetongtarn has dropped significantly, according to a new political survey conducted between 19 June and 25 June, The Nation Thailand reported. It polled 2,500 people across various demographics and regions. Nonarit Bisonyabut, a senior researcher at the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI), said the sharp decline in support for Ms Paetongtarn and her government reflected a rising public appetite for new solutions to the country's problems, potentially even paving the way for a general election to bring in alternative policy visions. 'The decline in the prime minister's popularity reflects an accelerating loss of public confidence in the government and its past performance,' Mr Nonarit said. Kriangkrai Thiannukul, chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), said: 'Mass protests are not a good sign. They directly undermine Thailand's leverage in international negotiations. Next week, the government will enter retaliatory tariff talks with the United States, led by the Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Ministry officials. If political unrest makes headlines, it could affect Thailand's credibility, weakening its negotiating position.' On Tuesday, a constitutional court in Thailand will consider the petition for Ms Paetongtarn's removal.
The Independent
a day ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Thousands of protesters take to streets demanding Thai prime minister's resignation over leaked phone call
Thousands of protesters gathered in Bangkok demanding prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra's resignation after a leaked phone call between her and former Cambodian leader Hun Sen sparked public outrage. The rally, the largest since her party took power in 2023, was led by long-time opponents of the Shinawatra political dynasty, accusing her government of failing to uphold democratic principles. Protesters claim Ms Paetongtarn is being influenced by Hun Sen and her father, Thaksin Shinawatra. Undeterred by the monsoon rain, thousands of demonstrators gathered at the Victory Monument in Bangkok on Saturday, blocking roads, waving Thai flags and holding placards with slogans like 'PM is enemy of state'. Protest leader Parnthep Pourpongpan declared that Ms Paetongtarn 'should step aside because she is the problem', according to BBC News. Ms Paetongtarn, 38, is the daughter of ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who returned to Thailand last August after 15 years in exile. In office for just 10 months, she is the country's second female prime minister, following in the footsteps of her aunt, Yingluck Shinawatra. The campaign group – the United Power of the Land to Protect Sovereignty group – vowed to intensify its campaign against the prime minister after a surprisingly large crowd joined their rally at Bangkok's Victory Monument on Saturday, The Bangkok Post reported. The group has also rejected claims by the Pheu Thai Party and others that they are advocating for a military coup. Besides demanding the prime minister's immediate resignation, the group has called for all coalition parties to withdraw from the government. In a statement, the group accused the executive branch and parliament of failing to act 'in the interest of democracy and constitutional monarchy', according to Reuters. Veteran Thai protest leader Sondhi Limthongkul told supporters he does not want the political crisis to escalate into another military coup, but added he 'won't object if the military does something', The Bangkok Post reported. Speaking to thousands at Bangkok's Victory Monument on Saturday evening, he said: 'Do not bring in those generals [to govern]. Let people like us in [the government],' he said. Mr Sondhi told the crowd: 'If we forget history, we are doomed to repeat it. Twenty years ago, I stood on a stage calling for Thaksin to step down. Now, two decades later, I'm forced to call for his daughter's resignation.' 'This is not the last protest. If change must come from the streets again, then so be it.' In the call with Hun Sen, Ms Paetongtarn appeared to blame Thailand's military for escalating border tensions with Cambodia and used a conciliatory tone, including referring to Mr Hun Sen as 'uncle'. The call came after a border dispute escalated into an armed clash on 28 May in a small piece of no man's land claimed by both countries. The clash resulted in the death of a Cambodian soldier. The call, leaked after the former Cambodian leader reportedly distributed it to some 80 politicians, outraged nationalists in Thailand and led to the Bhumjaithai party, Ms Paetongtarn's largest coalition partner, quitting the government and bringing it near collapse. The Thai prime minister has publicly apologised for the leaked call and insisted that it was a negotiation tactic, but critics claim it undermined Thailand's national sovereignty. The two countries share a thorny relationship, especially over border disputes. 'I would like to apologise for the leaked audio of my conversation with a Cambodian leader, which has caused public resentment,' Ms Paetongtarn said earlier. Hun Sen, on his part, had taken to Facebook to share the entire phone conversation 'to avoid any misunderstanding or misrepresentation in official matters'. Ms Paetongtarn explained that the call to Hun Sen was made from her personal phone, and she had no knowledge it was being recorded or would be made public. She said her government remained fully committed to supporting the Thai military. The Shinawatra family in Thailand and the Hun family in Cambodia have long-standing personal ties, reportedly referring to each other as 'godbrothers'. Critics in Thailand see this closeness as compromising Thai interests, particularly in sensitive border negotiations. Meanwhile, support for Ms Paetongtarn has dropped significantly, according to a new political survey conducted between 19 June and 25 June, The Nation Thailand reported. It polled 2,500 people across various demographics and regions. Nonarit Bisonyabut, a senior researcher at the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI), said the sharp decline in support for Ms Paetongtarn and her government reflected a rising public appetite for new solutions to the country's problems, potentially even paving the way for a general election to bring in alternative policy visions. 'The decline in the prime minister's popularity reflects an accelerating loss of public confidence in the government and its past performance,' Mr Nonarit said. Kriangkrai Thiannukul, chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), said: 'Mass protests are not a good sign. They directly undermine Thailand's leverage in international negotiations. Next week, the government will enter retaliatory tariff talks with the United States, led by the Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Ministry officials. If political unrest makes headlines, it could affect Thailand's credibility, weakening its negotiating position.' On Tuesday, a constitutional court in Thailand will consider the petition for Ms Paetongtarn's removal.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Bangkok protests: Thousands rally to call for Thai PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra to resign
Thousands of protestors have gathered in the Thai capital Bangkok, calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra after a phone call she had with the former Cambodian leader Hun Sen was the call, she addressed Hun Sen as "uncle" and said a Thai military commander handling a recent border dispute "just wanted to look cool and said things that are not useful".The call has sparked public anger and lead to a key partner in her ruling coalition to quit. Paetongtarn apologised, but defended the call as a "negotiation technique".Before leaving to visit flood-hit northern Thailand, Paetongtarn told reporters it is the people's "right to protest, as long as it's peaceful". Saturday's rally was the largest of its kind since the ruling Pheu Thai party came to power in braved the monsoon rain and blocked the roads at the Victory Monument war memorial in Bangkok, waving Thai flags and holding placards reading slogans such as: "PM is enemy of state". Protest leader Parnthep Pourpongpan said the prime minister "should step aside because she is the problem".Seri Sawangmue, 70, travelled overnight by bus from the country's north to join the told AFP that he was there "to protect Thailand's sovereignty and to say the PM is unfit"."I've lived through many political crises and I know where this is going," he has said she will no longer hold future calls with the former Cambodian leader, but Parnthep told Reuters that many Thai people felt she and her influential father were being manipulated by Hun Sen. Paetongtarn, 38, is the daughter of Thaksin Shinawatra, the deposed former prime minister who returned to Thailand last August after 15 years in exile. She has only been in office for 10 months and is the country's second female prime minister, with the first being her aunt Yingluck are calling for the end of Shinawatra rally was organised by the United Force of the Land, a coalition of largely nationalist activists who have protested against other Shinawatra-led governments for over two a statement read to crowds, the group said the executive branch and parliament were not working "in the interest of democracy and constitutional monarchy".As well as the flags and placards, people carried umbrellas to protect themselves from the rain. When it stopped, a rainbow formed over Victory Monument. On Tuesday the Constitutional Court will decide whether to take up a petition by senators seeking Paetongtarn's removal for alleged unprofessionalism over the Hun Sen Sen said he had shared the audio clip with 80 politicians and one of them leaked it. He later shared the entire 17-minute recording on his Facebook call was in to do with a recent dispute between Cambodia and Thailand, which saw tensions increase in May after a Cambodian soldier was killed in a border clash, plunging ties to their lowest in more than a the dispute between the two nations dates back to more than a century, when the borders were drawn after the French occupation of have imposed border restrictions on each other, while Cambodia has banned Thai imports from food to electricity and internet, as well as Thai television and cinema the tensions between their countries, the Shinawatras' friendship with the Hun family goes back decades, and Hun Sen and Paetongtarn's father consider each other "godbrothers".
NHK
3 days ago
- Politics
- NHK
Protesters rally in Bangkok, demanding resignation of prime minister
A massive rally was held in Thailand to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. Local media report about 17,000 protesters, including conservative supporters, joined the rally in Bangkok on Saturday. The demonstration was triggered by a leaked telephone conversation on June 15 between the prime minister and former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, who is currently Senate President. In the recording, Paetongtarn reportedly made negative remarks about a Thai army regional commander. A territorial dispute between Thailand and neighboring Cambodia has been escalating since May. Public dissatisfaction over the prime minister's handling of the conflict exploded after the leaked audio. Some protesters said the prime minister is too weak on Cambodia. They chanted, demanding that the prime minister leave office. On June 19, the second-largest ruling party pulled itself out of the ruling coalition in protest. The following day, a group of Senators submitted formal letters to the Constitutional Court, requesting the removal of the prime minister from office. Paetongtarn has not given into the demands.
Al Jazeera
4 days ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Thailand protesters demand PM's resignation over leaked call with Hun Sen
Hundreds of protesters have gathered in Thailand's capital to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra amid growing anger over a leaked phone call with former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen. Demonstrators took to the streets on Saturday, outraged by a June 15 conversation in which Paetongtarn urged Hun Sen – the current Cambodian Senate president who still wields considerable influence in his country – not to listen to 'the other side' in Thailand, including an outspoken Thai army general who she said 'just wants to look cool'. The army commander was in charge of an area where a border clash last month led to one Cambodian soldier being killed. The man was killed on May 28 following an armed confrontation in a contested area. The leaked phone call with Hun Sen was at the heart of Saturday's protest and has set off a string of investigations in Thailand that could lead to Paetongtarn's removal. Protesters held national flags and signs as they occupied parts of the streets around the Victory Monument in central Bangkok. At a huge stage set up at the monument, speakers expressed their love for Thailand following the intensified border dispute. Many of the leading figures in the protest were familiar faces from a group popularly known as Yellow Shirts, whose clothing colour indicates loyalty to the Thai monarchy. They are longtime foes of Paetongtarn's father, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who reportedly has a close relationship with Hun Sen. Yellow Shirts rallies turned violent and led to military coups in 2006 and 2014, which respectively ousted the elected governments of Thaksin and Paetongtarn's aunt, former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. Hun Sen on Saturday promised to protect his country's territory from foreign invaders and condemned what he called an attack by Thai forces last month. At a 74th anniversary celebration of the foundation of his long-ruling Cambodian People's Party, Hun Sen claimed the action by the Thai army when it engaged Cambodian forces was illegal. He said the skirmish inside Cambodian territory was a serious violation of country's sovereignty and territorial integrity, despite Cambodia's goodwill in attempting to resolve the border issue. 'This poor Cambodia has suffered from foreign invasion, war, and genocide, been surrounded and isolated and insulted in the past but now Cambodia has risen on an equal face with other countries. We need peace, friendship, cooperation, and development the most, and we have no politics and no unfriendly stance with any nation,' Hun Sen said in an address to thousands of party members at the event in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh. There is a long history of territorial disputes between the countries. Thailand is still rattled by a 1962 International Court of Justice ruling that awarded Cambodia the disputed territory where the historic Preah Vihear temple stands. There were sporadic though serious clashes there in 2011. The ruling from the UN court was reaffirmed in 2013, when Yingluck was prime minister. The scandal has broken Paetongtarn's fragile coalition government, costing her Pheu Thai Party the loss of its biggest partner, the Bhumjaithai Party. The departure of Bhumjaithai left the 10-party coalition with 255 seats, just above the majority of the 500-seat house. Paetongtarn also faces investigations by the Constitutional Court and the national anticorruption agency. Their decisions could lead to her removal from office. Sarote Phuengrampan, secretary-general of the Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission, said on Wednesday that his agency is investigating Paetongtarn for a serious breach of ethics over the Hun Sen phone call. He did not give a possible timeline for a decision. Reports said the Constitutional Court can suspend Paetongtarn from duty pending the investigation and could decide as early as next week whether it will take the case. The prime minister said on Tuesday she is not worried and is ready to give evidence to support her case. 'It was clear from the phone call that I had nothing to gain from it, and I also didn't cause any damage to the country,' she said. The court last year removed her predecessor from Pheu Thai over a breach of ethics.
