BANGKOK, June 28 (Reuters) – In Bangkok, several hundred demonstrators assembled on Saturday, calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra amid escalating tensions over a border dispute with Cambodia.
This demonstration marks the largest anti-government protest since the Pheu Thai party assumed power in 2023, intensifying the pressure on the 38-year-old prime minister who is already grappling with a sluggish economy and the stability of her coalition government ahead of a looming no-confidence vote next month.
The protesters waved flags near Victory Monument, a notable war memorial situated at a bustling intersection, during an event organized by the United Force of the Land, a coalition primarily composed of nationalist activists historically opposed to Shinawatra-affiliated governments. While previous protests did not directly unseat any administrations, they often heightened tensions, leading to judicial interventions and military coups in 2006 and 2014.
The ongoing political instability in Thailand poses further risks to the country’s already fragile economic recovery. In response to the protests, Paetongtarn stated that she was untroubled by the demonstration and directed authorities to maintain order during the gathering.
“It is the people’s right to express their views, and I will not strike back,” she remarked. Following the departure of her coalition partner, the Bhumjaithai Party, last week due to concerns over potential threats to Thai sovereignty stemming from a leaked conversation with former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Paetongtarn’s government now operates with a narrow majority. This situation sets the stage for a possible no-confidence vote when parliament reconvenes next week.
In the controversial call, Paetongtarn appeared to placate the seasoned Cambodian leader while criticizing a Thai military commander, a sensitive issue in a nation where the military exerts considerable influence. The prime minister has since expressed remorse regarding her comments.
Adding to her challenges, Paetongtarn is facing scrutiny from the judiciary after a group of senators filed petitions with both the Constitutional Court and a national anti-corruption agency to investigate her actions concerning the leaked phone call. Outcomes from either of these institutions could potentially lead to her ousting.
In an unprecedented televised address, Hun Sen, who was once aligned with the Shinawatra family, launched a scathing public critique of Paetongtarn and her family, advocating for a government change in Thailand. The Thai foreign ministry characterized his remarks as “extraordinary” while reiterating that the country prefers diplomatic avenues to address the intensifying bilateral tensions.
