Thousands of protesters packed Bangkok's Victory Monument on Saturday, demanding Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra's resignation in the largest anti-government demonstration since her Pheu Thai Party took power in 2023. Police estimated the crowd at 6,000 by mid-afternoon, with expectations it would exceed 10,000 by evening.
The rally represents a culmination of political turmoil sparked by a leaked phone call that has left Thailand's government teetering on the brink of collapse and raised fresh concerns about the country's chronic political instability.
Demonstrators waved Thai flags and held placards reading "Evil PM, get out" as speakers took turns condemning Shinawatra from a stage facing Din Daeng Road1. The crowd, predominantly over 50 and comprising veterans of previous anti-government rallies, included many who traveled overnight from across the country21.
"I'm here to protect Thailand's sovereignty and to say the PM is unfit," said 70-year-old protester Seri Sawangmue, who traveled by bus from northern Thailand1. "After I heard the leaked call I knew I couldn't trust her."
The protest was organized by the "United Power of the Land to Protect Sovereignty" group, led by former political rivals including ex-red shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan and yellow shirt veteran Sondhi Limthongkul23. Activities began with a Buddhist ceremony and were scheduled to conclude at 9pm with a mass singing of the national anthem2.
The demonstrations stem from a June 15 phone conversation between Shinawatra and former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen that was leaked earlier this month1. In the 17-minute recording, Shinawatra called Hun Sen "uncle" and referred to Second Army Region commander Lt Gen Boonsin Padklang as one of her "opponents"21.
The call was intended to address border tensions following a May confrontation that killed one Cambodian soldier34. However, critics accused the 38-year-old prime minister of undermining Thailand's military and kowtowing to Cambodia.
The fallout prompted the conservative Bhumjaithai Party to quit Shinawatra's coalition on Wednesday, leaving her with a razor-thin parliamentary majority of 261 seats in the 495-member legislature53. Ultra-royalist politician Warong Detkijwikrom told protesters that unlike her corrupt father, Shinawatra "simply sells the country to Cambodia"6.
Shinawatra, who was visiting flood-hit northern provinces, told reporters before departing Bangkok: "It's their right to protest, as long as it's peaceful"7. The Constitutional Court will decide Tuesday whether to hear a petition seeking her removal over alleged unprofessionalism3.
