Thousands of people filled the streets of Bangkok on Saturday to call for Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to step down. Their anger came after a leaked phone call between her and former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen sparked public outrage and political tension.

Border Dispute Sparks Outrage

The leaked conversation followed a border clash on May 28, where one Cambodian soldier died in a disputed area. Many Thais believe Paetongtarn handled the situation poorly. Her critics say she tried too hard to please Hun Sen, who now serves as Cambodia’s Senate President.

Protesters accused her of being weak and failing to defend Thailand’s national interests. One key reason for anger was her remarks in the call about a Thai military commander known for being outspoken.

Nationalist Sentiment Rises

Protesters waved national flags and held up signs at Victory Monument in central Bangkok. Many speakers took the stage to express their patriotism and frustration. People chanted, sang songs, and danced to music that promoted national pride.

One protester, Tatchakorn Srisuwan, came all the way from Surat Thani. He said, “From a heart of a Thai person, we’ve never had a prime minister who’s so weak.” He added, “We don’t want to invade anyone, but we want to say that we are Thai and we want to protect Thailand’s sovereignty.”

Old Political Rivals Reappear

Many leaders of the protest are part of the Yellow Shirts, a royalist group known for opposing the Shinawatra family. They were active in violent protests that led to the 2006 and 2014 coups, which removed Paetongtarn’s father Thaksin Shinawatra and aunt Yingluck from office.

The group sees Thaksin and his allies as a threat to the monarchy. They have long clashed with the Pheu Thai Party, which Paetongtarn now leads.

Hun Sen Defends Cambodia

Meanwhile, Hun Sen responded strongly during a speech in Phnom Penh on Saturday. He said the Thai military violated Cambodia’s sovereignty.

“This poor Cambodia has suffered from foreign invasion, war and genocide, been surrounded and isolated and insulted in the past, but now Cambodia has risen on an equal face with other countries,” he said.

He vowed to protect Cambodia from any foreign threats, even while the country has tried to resolve border tensions peacefully.

History of Tension

Territorial disputes between Thailand and Cambodia go back decades. In 1962, the International Court of Justice ruled that the area around the Preah Vihear temple belonged to Cambodia. This ruling still angers many Thais. In 2011, clashes at the site turned violent again. The court reaffirmed its earlier decision in 2013, when Yingluck Shinawatra was prime minister.

Government in Trouble

The phone call scandal has weakened Paetongtarn’s coalition. Her main ally, the Bhumjaithai Party, pulled out, leaving her with only 255 seats in the 500-member House—barely a majority.

Now, Paetongtarn faces several investigations. The National Anti-Corruption Commission is reviewing whether she breached ethics in her call with Hun Sen.

Sarote Phuengrampan, the commission’s secretary-general, confirmed the investigation but did not give a timeline for the outcome.

At the same time, Thailand’s Constitutional Court may soon decide whether to accept a petition to remove her. If the court accepts the case, it could suspend her from office while the investigation continues.

Paetongtarn, however, said she isn’t worried. “It was clear from the phone call that I had nothing to gain from it, and I also didn’t cause any damage to the country,” she said.

Court System Plays Key Role

Thailand’s courts—especially the Constitutional Court—have often removed elected leaders. In fact, the same court removed Paetongtarn’s predecessor last year for ethical violations. Many see the courts and other state agencies as tools of the royalist establishment, often used to undermine opponents like the Pheu Thai Party.