A DEMONSTRATION got underway at the Victory Monument today (Aug. 2) to show support for troops at the Thai-Cambodian border after five days of clashes and also demand that suspended prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra resign without waiting for the Constitutional Court’s verdict, Thai Rath newspaper said.
The rally, arranged by the Ruam Palang Phaendin group, started at noon and will continue till 9 a.m. with demonstrators flocking in since morning despite the scorching heat.
Key leader of this demonstration who took turns in giving speeches include Mr. Jatuporn Prompan, former core leader of the Red Shirt movement, Mr. Nitithorn Lamluea, a lawyer, and Mr. Phichit Chaiyamongkol, core leader of the Network of Students and People for Reform of Thailand.
It was reported that speeches would be given in both Thai and Khmer languages to send a message to Cambodian leader Hun Sen on their concern about the border tensions and clashes.
The three key demands of this group are as follows:
– Suspended prime minister Paethongtarn Shinawatra resign without waiting for the Constitutional Court’s ruling;
– Coalition parties withdraw and announce that they no longer support the current Pheu Thai-led government;
– The government clearly demonstrate its commitment to protect Thai sovereignty and take greater responsibility for the border situation.
On July 1 the Constitutional Court suspended Paetongtarn from doing her executive duties as head of government pending a verdict on the historic impeachment case. However she has managed to continue to stay in the Pheu Thai-led cabinet as culture minister .
She has been charged with perpetrating disreputable, erroneous conduct whilst handling Thai-Cambodian border conflict primarily deemed detrimental to Thailand’s territorial integrity and national interests, supposedly warranting a court-ordered end to her rule.
In her informal telephone conversation with Cambodian leader Hun Sen a couple of weeks earlier, Paetongtarn spontaneously offered to do whatever he may have wanted her to do in an apparent effort to settle the border dispute and restore mutual peace along the shared border allegedly at the expense of Thailand’s national prestige and honour.
CAPTION:
Top, below and Front Page: The demonstration at the Victory Monument today, August 2, 2025. Photos: Saran Pongsawat/Thai Rath
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