Massive Bangkok Protest Calls for PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s Resignation Amid Scandal

Protesters in the thousands painted the streets of Bangkok yesterday with their presence, convening at none other than the iconic Victory Monument. Their rallying cry? Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s resignation, echoing loudly through the city air. This formidable assembly swelled, thanks to a leaked phone call implicating her in a conversation with former Cambodian leader, Hun Sen. A historic moment unfolded, as this marked the largest dissenting gathering since the Pheu Thai Party ascended to power in 2023.

Leading the charge was the Ruam Palang Paendin Pokpong Athipatai, a formidable group meaning “United Power of the Land to Protect Sovereignty.” With eagle eye precision, police employed drones to survey the boisterous crowd, reporting an assembly of 6,000 by mid-afternoon. Police Major General Thawat Wongsanga, the man of the hour and deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, anticipated numbers would surge past 10,000 as evening approached.

Interestingly, this diverse crowd primarily consisted of veterans of past protests, those over 50, who had long opposed the reign of Paetongtarn’s forebears—father Thaksin and aunt Yingluck. Though the iconic yellow shirts of the past were fewer, leaders opted for the unified symbol of white attire. Accessories reminiscent of the 2014 Bangkok Shutdown found their fashion moment once again. Unfazed by sporadic rain, which had some reaching for shelter, the crowd’s fervor was unapologetically unyielding.

The streets witnessed a tale of two cities; normally free-flowing traffic at Victory Monument began its transformation into a burgeoning labyrinth as the hours ticked by. The tale was spun by Pol Maj Gen Thawat himself during a dynamic 4pm address. By midday, Ratchawithi Road traffic took a halt, followed by Phahon Yothin Road later in the afternoon, leading motorists to alternate routes like the Din Daeng expressway underpass.

Festivities commenced at 9am, heralded by Thai flags fluttering patriotically amongst participants. The day’s itinerary was rich with a variety of activities, from merit-making rites to poignant speeches, interspersed with musical interludes setting the stage alive on Din Daeng Road. Notable political voices like Jatuporn Prompan, Panthep Puaponfpan, Phichit Chaimongkol, and Sondhi Limthongkul were slated to inspire post a chorus of the Thai national anthem, symbolizing an undying unity.

The day saw voices rise, including political critic Warong Detkijwikrom, uncompromising in his overview of the Prime Minister. Contrasting her with Thaksin, he did not mince words branding him corrupt while accusing Paetongtarn of barging Thailand’s sovereignty to Cambodia. Leaders promised to pack up by 9pm, sans overnight stay assurances given to peacekeepers.

The avenue was under vigilant observation, with strategic police reserves stationed across key junctures. Skywalks found themselves teeming with captivated onlookers and a small army of media personnel. A hawkeye surveillance was lifted by over 200 CCTV cameras while drones drifted above, patrolling every nimbly corner. Explosive Ordnance Disposal units, coupled with an eight-strong K9 unit, ensured safety was top-notch. By late afternoon, security personnel confiscated seven knives and 17 box cutters, with one cheerless soul charged for his dissent to inspection. Another person met a fate courtesy of a pre-existing Computer Crimes Act warrant.

Ambulances lay in wait for emergencies, a hospital ensemble comprising Police General, Phramongkutklao, and Rajavithi – on baton stand by. Parallel stirrings traced back to Nakhon Ratchasima, approximately 200 activists converged at the revered Thao Suranari Monument. Travelling at first light, four tour buses and two vans departed for Bangkok, led by Supot Piriyakiatsakul of the People’s Patriotic Network, echoing calls for Paetongtarn’s removal.

Meanwhile in Phitsanulok, vibrant voices embarked on their own caravan of civil discontent, decking themselves in colorful attire and armed with radiating Thai flags. In Chiang Rai, the Prime Minister remained astute, monitoring unfolding events as she led assessments of flood wreckage. Acknowledging the sanctity of protest, she averred her openness for peaceful dialogue.

Though history whispers that previous protests did little to topple the sturdy bastions of Thaksin and Yingluck, they undeniably laid the groundwork for their political undoing via the courts and military coups of 2006 and 2014. As scrutiny mounts around Paetongtarn, with senators nudging the Constitutional Court and anti-graft bodies into inquiry over the leaked tete-a-tete, her position hangs in the balance. All eyes now rest on the court’s July 1st assembly, charged with determining if the complaint will be weighed, possibly putting the pause button on her term pending a decisive outcome, as reported by Bangkok Post.