Nearly 2,000 protesters rallied at Bangkok’s Victory Monument on Saturday, braving scorching heat to demand the resignation of court-suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. The demonstration, fueled by a deadly Thailand-Cambodia border clash that killed over three dozen people and displaced more than 260,000, also expressed fervent support for the Thai military. The conflict, rooted in decades-long territorial disputes, escalated after a leaked June 15 phone call between Paetongtarn and former Cambodian leader Hun Sen, now Senate president, sparked outrage.

In the call, Paetongtarn, 38, addressed Hun Sen as “uncle” and criticized a Thai army commander, prompting accusations of disloyalty and undermining national interests. The Constitutional Court suspended her on July 1 pending an ethics probe, with a verdict expected soon. Protesters, including many from the conservative, pro-royalist Yellow Shirts, accused Paetongtarn and her father, former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, of escalating the conflict due to their close ties with Hun Sen. “Ung Ing, you need to leave. People have died because of you,” declared columnist Jittakorn Bussaba, using Paetongtarn’s nickname, to applause.

The rally, organized by the United Force of the Land, saw patriotic songs and speeches denouncing the Shinawatra dynasty, which has faced military coups in 2006 and 2014 ousting Thaksin and his sister Yingluck. Protester Kittiwat, 75, vowed to “protect Thai sovereignty,” while Ammorn Khunthong, 58, demanded an end to Shinawatra influence. The Malaysian-brokered ceasefire on July 29 has done little to quell tensions, with Cambodia banning Thai imports and both nations tightening border controls.

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Paetongtarn’s coalition, weakened after the Bhumjaithai Party’s exit, holds a slim 255-seat majority in the 500-seat House, facing a potential no-confidence vote. Her approval rating has plummeted to 9.2%, and she faces investigations by the National Anti-Corruption Commission. Analysts warn of deepening instability, though military intervention seems unlikely. Paetongtarn, now culture minister, defends her actions as diplomatic efforts to preserve peace, but the protests signal a fractured political landscape.

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