Protests Erupt in Bangkok Over Leaked Call Between Thai PM and Cambodia’s Hun Sen

Thousands of people gathered in Bangkok on Saturday demanding the resignation of Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra after a leaked phone conversation between her and former Cambodian leader Hun Sen sparked outrage.

In the call, Paetongtarn referred to Hun Sen as “uncle” and criticized a Thai military commander involved in a recent border conflict, saying he “just wanted to look cool.” The remark has led to strong public backlash, with many accusing the prime minister of disrespecting Thailand’s military and undermining national sovereignty.

Although Paetongtarn apologized, she defended her words as a negotiation tactic. She told reporters before heading to flood-affected northern Thailand that peaceful protests are a democratic right.

The protest, the largest since the Pheu Thai party came to power in 2023, saw thousands defying heavy rain at Bangkok’s Victory Monument. Demonstrators waved Thai flags and carried signs calling her an "enemy of the state."

Protest leader Parnthep Pourpongpan declared that Paetongtarn was now the core problem and should resign. Other demonstrators, like 70-year-old Seri Sawangmue who traveled from northern Thailand, said they feared for the country’s sovereignty.

Paetongtarn has announced she won’t speak with Hun Sen again, but many believe she and her father, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, are under Hun Sen’s influence. Thaksin, a powerful political figure, returned from exile last year. Paetongtarn, only 10 months into her term, is Thailand’s second female prime minister.

The rally was led by long-time opponents of Shinawatra-led governments. Protesters claimed the current leadership is not respecting democratic and constitutional values. Meanwhile, Thailand’s Constitutional Court is set to decide Tuesday whether to accept a petition to remove Paetongtarn for alleged misconduct related to the leaked call.

Hun Sen admitted to distributing the 17-minute recording to politicians, blaming one of them for the leak. The call discussed tensions that escalated in May after a Cambodian soldier was killed at the Thai border, an area with a long history of disputes dating back to colonial times.

The incident has reignited trade bans and media blackouts between the two countries, despite the close personal ties between the Shinawatra and Hun families.