Thousands of demonstrators rallied at Bangkok’s Victory Monument on June 28, demanding Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s resignation in the largest anti-government protest since her Pheu Thai party took power in 2023. Braving monsoon rains, crowds waved Thai flags and chanted “Ung Ing, get out!”, using the premier’s nickname as speakers accused her of betraying national sovereignty. Organized by the nationalist United Force of the Land, the protest drew an estimated 10,000–20,000 participants, many elderly and veterans of past anti-Shinawatra movements.
The crisis erupted after a leaked June 15 phone call between Paetongtarn and Cambodia’s former leader Hun Sen, intended to de-escalate a May border clash that left one Cambodian soldier dead. In the recording, Paetongtarn called Hun Sen “uncle,” criticized a Thai army commander as her “opponent,” and pledged to “take care of” Cambodia’s requests. Public criticism of Thailand’s military, a powerful institution crossed a red line, triggering outrage. Hun Sen later released the full 17-minute audio on Facebook, exacerbating tensions.
The scandal fractured Paetongtarn’s coalition, prompting the Bhumjaithai Party to withdraw and reducing her parliamentary majority to just 255 of 500 seats. She now faces a no-confidence vote in July and dual investigations, which includes Thailand’s Constitutional Court going to meet on July 2 to decide whether to suspend her over alleged ethical violations and the National Anti-Corruption Commission is probing the call for “serious breach of ethics”. Hun Sen escalated tensions on June 28, condemning Thailand’s “violation of sovereignty” and declaring Cambodia “risen on an equal face” with neighbors.
The border dispute centers on the Preah Vihear temple, awarded to Cambodia by the World Court in 1962 and reaffirmed in 2013 510. Analysts warn the crisis exposes ASEAN’s “diplomatic authority drift,” where informal backchannel talks, which are common in Southeast Asia lack safeguards against exploitation. Hun Sen, though no longer Cambodia’s prime minister, retains significant influence and weaponized the call to destabilize Thailand’s government. With protests echoing those that preceded coups against Paetongtarn’s father (2006) and aunt (2014), Thailand’s fragile democracy faces renewed strain.