Protesters in Thailand demand the ousting of the Prime Minister
In the heart of Bangkok, at the Victory Monument, a significant gathering took place last Saturday. Over 2,000 protesters, numbering about 1,000 in early August, rallied to demand the immediate resignation of Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the court-suspended Thai Prime Minister [1][3][5].
The protesters, many of whom were familiar faces from the conservative, pro-royalist group once known as the Yellow Shirts, sang patriotic songs and listened to speeches denouncing Paetongtarn and her father, former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra [1]. One of the prominent speakers was Pichit Chaimongkol, a protest leader, who accused Paetongtarn of compromising national security and urged her to step down [1].
The calls for her resignation are rooted in a leaked phone call that showed Paetongtarn criticizing a top Thai military commander and using language that angered nationalistic sentiments, especially in the context of heightened Thai-Cambodian border tensions [1][2][4]. This conflict resulted in deadly clashes and cross-border airstrikes, leading some locals to accuse Paetongtarn and her family of allowing the border conflict to escalate due to their close ties with former Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen [2].
The army in Thailand, a major player in politics, has staged 13 successful coups since the country became a constitutional monarchy in 1932. The protesters voiced their backing of the country's army [1].
Ammorn Khunthong, a 58-year-old protester, stated that Paetongtarn and her family should no longer run or command the country. Jittakorn Bussaba, a well-known conservative columnist and protester, called for Paetongtarn Shinawatra to leave, using her nickname "Ung Ing" [1].
Thaksin Shinawatra, Paetongtarn's father, was often accused of not separating his business dealings from those of the government. He was also accused of buying the loyalty of local political bosses nationwide when he entered politics [1].
The most recent clashes between unspecified parties ended with an uneasy Malaysian-brokered ceasefire on Tuesday last week [1]. Despite the ceasefire, the tension remains high, and the protests continue to gain momentum.
The movement calling for Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s resignation is primarily driven by protest leaders like Pichit Chaimongkol, demonstrators at mass rallies, and a formal ethical complaint filed by a group of 36 senators, all framed within wider political and national security concerns amid the Thai-Cambodian border conflict [1][2][3]. No specific political parties or formal opposition groups are explicitly mentioned in the sources as leading the protest, but calls also included demands for coalition parties to withdraw from the Pheu Thai Party-led government [1].
This suggests a coalition of disparate groups and political actors united in opposition to Paetongtarn’s leadership in reaction to the border conflict and perceived ethical breaches. The protests continue, and the future of Thai politics remains uncertain.
[1] The Nation, "Protesters Rally in Bangkok to Demand Resignation of Court-Suspended Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra," August 14, 2025. [2] Bangkok Post, "36 Senators File Ethical Misconduct Complaint against Paetongtarn Shinawatra," July 30, 2025. [3] Reuters, "Thousands of Protesters Demand Resignation of Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra," August 14, 2025. [4] The Guardian, "Thai-Cambodian Border Conflict Escalates: Deadly Clashes and Cross-Border Airstrikes," July 25, 2025. [5] CNN, "Protesters at Victory Monument Demand Immediate Resignation of Paetongtarn Shinawatra," August 7, 2025.
- The ongoing protests in Bangkok against the court-suspended Thai Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, are not just about domestic politics, but also about national security concerns, particularly amid the Thai-Cambodian border conflicts and war-and-conflicts.
- As the Thai-Cambodian border tensions escalate, general-news outlets have reported the growing calls for Paetongtarn Shinawatra's resignation, which are rooted in a leaked phone call where she criticized a top Thai military commander, and this has stirred up nationalistic sentiments within the protesters.
