Bangkok – Thousands of demonstrators gathered at Victory Monument on Saturday to demand the immediate resignation of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, intensifying political tensions following the leak of a controversial recording allegedly featuring the Thai leader and Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen.

Police and Protesters Brace for Major Anti-Government Rally in Bangkok

Protest leaders took to the stage from 10 a.m., delivering a fiery condemnation of Paetongtarn’s leadership, accusing her of undermining Thailand’s sovereignty in dealings with Cambodia. In a prepared statement read to cheering crowds, they called on coalition partners to abandon her government and urged citizens to defend the nation’s independence.

The rally gained momentum after a leaked audio clip surfaced, purportedly capturing Paetongtarn telling Hun Sen, “Ask for whatever you need, and I will comply.” Protesters seized on the recording as evidence of her subservience to Cambodia, further accusing her of betrayal for dismissing a Thai military commander as “just an opponent who says anything to look cool.”

Hundreds rallied in Bangkok on Saturday, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra amid a growing diplomatic crisis with Cambodia and economic discontent.

The protest, led by the United Force of the Land, marks the largest since her Pheu Thai party took… pic.twitter.com/4O0zy7AgIN

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Despite a heavy downpour at 5 p.m., which sent some scrambling for shelter, hundreds remained steadfast, clad in raincoats and holding umbrellas as speakers continued their blistering critiques of the government. Musical performances interspersed the speeches, keeping morale high even as the skies opened.

By 6 p.m., the crowd had swelled, packing the streets around Victory Monument and spilling onto pedestrian flyovers, where onlookers watched the proceedings from above. Vendors did brisk business selling protest memorabilia, including T-shirts emblazoned with Thailand’s map, as the atmosphere grew increasingly charged.

Cambodia’s former leader Hun Sen Threatens to Expose Shinawatras

The demonstration marks a significant escalation in opposition to Paetongtarn’s administration, with protesters vowing to sustain pressure until she steps down. Authorities remain on high alert as the political standoff shows no signs of abating.

-Thailand News (TN)