Bangkok Leadership Stands Firm after Leaked Call

(MENAFN) Thailand’s governing Pheu Thai Party announced on Saturday that Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra will not step down or disband parliament, dismissing opposition appeals triggered by a leaked telephone exchange with Cambodia’s Senate leader.

Party Secretary-General Sorawong Thienthong explained in a Facebook post—“The Prime Minister has firmly affirmed to us that she will continue to fully carry out her duties in addressing the crises the country is currently facing,”—pointing to the country’s ongoing friction with Cambodia.

His statement followed the release of an audio recording of a call between Paetongtarn and Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen, which appeared on Hun Sen’s Facebook page.

In the clip, Paetongtarn is heard rebuking the commander of Thailand’s 2nd Army Region for the military’s handling of a border clash that killed a Cambodian soldier on 28 May.

Since the leak, opposition blocs and street protesters have urged her resignation and demanded parliament’s dissolution.

Opposition chief Natthapong Ruengpanyawut is pressing for an immediate election, arguing that public trust has been breached.

Tensions escalated further when Thai officials filed a complaint with the Cybercrime Investigation Bureau against Hun Sen, accusing him of endangering national security and inflaming bilateral strains, a news agency reported.

On Friday, Senate Speaker Mongkol Surasajja asked the Constitutional Court to rule on whether Paetongtarn can remain in office, while a separate group of legislators petitioned the National Anti-Corruption Commission to scrutinize her conduct.

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