Protesters in Bangkok demand Thai PM's resignation

Public anger has been mounting over Paetongtarn’s handling of a recent border clash with Cambodia, which erupted on May 28 in a disputed area and resulted in the death of a Cambodian soldier.

The leaked phone call with Hun Sen, who now serves as Cambodia’s Senate president, has become a focal point of the protests and has sparked multiple investigations in Thailand that could potentially unseat Paetongtarn.

Criticism of the prime minister centers on her remarks regarding a prominent regional military commander and her apparent attempts to placate Hun Sen in an effort to de-escalate tensions along the border.

Protesters, waving national flags and holding banners, gathered around Bangkok's Victory Monument, where a large stage was set up. Speakers urged unity and expressed their love for the country, while demonstrators chanted slogans, sang, and danced to patriotic songs.

Tatchakorn Srisuwan, a 47-year-old tour guide from Surat Thani province, said he traveled overnight to join the demonstration, condemning Paetongtarn’s leadership.

“As a Thai citizen, I’ve never seen a prime minister so weak,” he said. “We don’t want to invade others, but we must stand up for our sovereignty.”

The protest saw participation from prominent members of the so-called Yellow Shirts movement, known for their royalist stance and opposition to the Shinawatra family. The group has long been critical of Paetongtarn’s father, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is believed to have close ties with Hun Sen.

Yellow Shirt protests in the past have been linked to political unrest, including the military coups that ousted Thaksin in 2006 and Paetongtarn’s aunt, Yingluck Shinawatra, in 2014, reports UNB.