World

Thailand’s PM Paetongtarn In Crisis Mode After Leaked Call With Cambodian PM

by aweeincm

<p>Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra&rsquo;s government is on the brink of collapse just 10 months into power, following a leaked phone call with Cambodian leader Hun Sen that has sparked public outrage and triggered a political crisis.</p>
<h2><strong>Thailand PM’s Leaked Call Triggers Outrage</strong></h2>
<p>In the controversial audio clip, Paetongtarn, 38, can be heard addressing Hun Sen &mdash; a long-time family friend &mdash; as &ldquo;uncle&rdquo; and seemingly criticising a top Thai military commander&rsquo;s handling of an escalating border conflict. &ldquo;I would like to apologise for the leaked audio of my conversation with a Cambodian leader which has caused public resentment,&rdquo; she said on Thursday, as demands for her resignation gained momentum.</p>
<h2><strong>Key Coalition Partner Quits</strong></h2>
<p>The fallout escalated when Bhumjaithai, the ruling coalition&rsquo;s second-largest party, withdrew its support on Wednesday, delivering a heavy blow to the Peu Thai-led administration&rsquo;s fragile majority in parliament. The situation remains tense, with two other coalition partners meeting on Thursday to reassess their stance.</p>
<h2><strong>Criticism Over &lsquo;Negotiation Technique&rsquo;</strong></h2>
<p>According to a BBC report, critics wasted no time attacking Paetongtarn&rsquo;s perceived subservience to Hun Sen and her remarks about the Thai military, which she said &ldquo;just wanted to look cool and said things that are not useful.&rdquo; She defended the exchange as a &ldquo;negotiation technique,&rdquo; but the public backlash has been severe.</p>
<p>The Shinawatra family&rsquo;s close ties with Cambodia&rsquo;s ruling Hun family have long raised suspicions among Thai nationalists. Her father, Thaksin Shinawatra, and Hun Sen have often referred to each other as &ldquo;godbrothers.&rdquo;</p>
<h2><strong>Hun Sen Releases Full Clip</strong></h2>
<p>Hun Sen admitted to sharing the audio with 80 politicians before releasing the entire 17-minute recording on Facebook.</p>
<p>In response, Thailand&rsquo;s foreign ministry sent a letter to Cambodia&rsquo;s ambassador, expressing &ldquo;deep disappointment&rdquo; over the leak of what it described as a &ldquo;private telephone conversation.&rdquo; It cautioned that the disclosure &ldquo;will severely affect ongoing efforts for both sides to resolve the problem in good faith.&rdquo;</p>
<h2><strong>Thai-Cambodian Border Tensions Worsen</strong></h2>
<p>Tensions along the Thai-Cambodian border have been steadily rising since last month when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a clash, marking the lowest point in diplomatic relations in over a decade. Cambodia retaliated by imposing broad bans on Thai imports &mdash; including agricultural products, electricity, and even popular Thai television dramas &mdash; while both countries introduced new border restrictions.</p>
<h2><strong>Thailand&rsquo;s Youngest PM Under Fire</strong></h2>
<p>Paetongtarn, who became Thailand&rsquo;s youngest prime minister and only the second woman to hold the office (after her aunt Yingluck Shinawatra), took power last August following her predecessor Srettha Thavisin&rsquo;s removal by court order. Now, with her coalition fracturing and criticism mounting, her political future hangs in the balance.</p>

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