Thousands of demonstrators flooded central Bangkok on Saturday, demanding the resignation of Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, following the leak of a controversial phone call with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen.

The Thai leader is under growing scrutiny for her handling of a long-standing border dispute with Cambodia. Tensions escalated after a May incident in which a Cambodian soldier was killed during a brief skirmish. The situation worsened when a recording of a private conversation between Paetongtarn and Hun Sen was made public.

In the audio clip, Paetongtarn refers to Hun Sen as “uncle” and criticizes a senior Thai military officer, assuring the former Cambodian prime minister that she would “take care of” any requests he had. The remarks have triggered a fierce backlash from Thai nationalists who accuse her of compromising national sovereignty.

'Ung Ing, get out'

Protesters waving Thai flags and chanting “Ung Ing, get out”, a reference to her nickname, held signs labeling her a “traitor PM". Police estimated that at least 6,000 people had gathered by mid-afternoon, with the number expected to exceed 10,000 by nightfall, making it the largest protest since her Pheu Thai party assumed power in 2023.

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“This is not about causing chaos,” said legal scholar Jade Donavanik, addressing the crowd. “We are united here by the force of nature to safeguard our national and territorial integrity, to protect our sovereignty, and to set the country right.”

The rally was organized by the United Force of the Land, a nationalist coalition that is now calling on all parties to withdraw from the ruling coalition. The government’s stability has already been shaken by the exit of a key political partner earlier this month due to the controversy.

Legal fallout and constitutional court petition

Paetongtarn now faces possible legal suspension. Multiple petitions accusing her of ethical and constitutional violations have prompted the Constitutional Court to convene on Tuesday. If the case is accepted, she could be suspended from office during the trial, a process expected to stretch over several months.

Although she has publicly apologized for the leaked call, the apology has failed to quell public anger.

The Thai-Cambodian border dispute traces back to colonial-era French cartography. Nationalist sentiment has surged on both sides in recent months, as tensions continue to mount.

Speaking at a rally marking the Cambodian People’s Party’s 74th anniversary, Hun Sen criticized Thailand’s recent actions, “This poor Cambodia has suffered from foreign invasion, war and genocide... but now Cambodia has risen on an equal face with other countries.”

Although Hun Sen stepped down officially in 2023, handing power to his son, he remains a powerful political force in Cambodia.

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