On June 19 (Thursday), Thai Prime Minister Peetongtan Chinnawat stated at a press conference that the Thai government had lodged a protest letter to the Cambodian government regarding the recording and dissemination of a conversation between her and former Cambodian leader Hun Sen. She also issued an apology to the Thai people for the conversation with Hun Sen.
The leaked phone call between Thai Prime Minister Peetongtan and former Cambodian leader Hun Sen on June 18 led to the second largest party in her government coalition withdrawing from the ruling alliance.
Peetongtan said, “No one should record such a private conversation and release it in this manner. This is unacceptable.” She mentioned having discussions with the military to restore the relationship between the military and the government, stating, “The military and the government have agreed to closely cooperate in defending national sovereignty.”
The leaked recording was made by Hun Sen and shared with about 80 officials. A 9-minute excerpt of the phone conversation was leaked on June 18, with Hun Sen later posting the full 17-minute audio on his Facebook account. Both parties acknowledged the authenticity of the recording.
In the recording, Peetongtan attributed the ongoing weeks-long border standoff with Cambodia to the Thai military. She politely referred to Hun Sen as “uncle” and mentioned Thailand’s willingness to reopen border trade upon Cambodia’s request.
Throughout the conversation, Peetongtan spoke in a gentle tone, addressing Hun Sen as “uncle” and herself as “niece.” She urged Hun Sen to overlook statements opposing their side, including those from tough Thai military leaders, stating that such voices were mere “blustering” and did not represent the government’s official stance.
Peetongtan’s remarks sparked strong criticism from the Thai public and political circles, accusing her of damaging national dignity and military morale, exhibiting weak leadership, and lacking political experience. The second largest party in the ruling coalition, the Thai Pride Party, announced its withdrawal from the government alliance, with its cabinet members collectively resigning.
In May of this year, clashes erupted in disputed border areas between Thailand and Cambodia, resulting in the death of a Cambodian soldier. In efforts to resolve the dispute, Peetongtan had a conversation with former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.
The Thai Pride Party issued a statement expressing its inability to accept the phone call. The statement called for Prime Minister Peetongtan to take responsibility for the nation’s loss of dignity. It pledged to work closely with the Thai people and military to defend the sovereignty and interests of the Thai people.
Late on Wednesday, the ruling party where Peetongtan belongs issued a statement through the Thai Party, reiterating its mission to defend the sovereignty and interests of the Thai people. The statement affirmed the party’s support for the government, security agencies, armed forces, and the Foreign Ministry in their commitment to resolving issues peacefully. It emphasized that in this situation, no force could surpass the unity of the Thai people in defending Thailand.
During Thursday’s press conference, Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, leader of the People’s Party, Thailand’s largest opposition party, called for the dissolution of the House of Representatives, claiming that the current government lacked authority to rule the country and should hand power back to the people for the selection of a new government. He stated, “The prime minister’s sense of justice has eroded, she has destroyed the people’s trust, and this situation has reached its breaking point.”
On Thursday, the Thai Army spokesperson stated in a release that Army Commander Pana Klaewplodthuk urged the Thai people to steadfastly uphold the constitutional monarchy of the Royal Thai Army and maintain confidence in fulfilling the duty to protect national sovereignty through established legal frameworks and institutional mechanisms at any time.
At the same time, General Pana Klaewplodthuk denied the possibility of a coup in response to a reporter’s question, affirming the military’s commitment to upholding democracy and doing everything in its power to defend national sovereignty.
On Thursday, hundreds gathered outside the government building in Bangkok demanding that Prime Minister Peetongtan take responsibility and resign.
The Thai Pride Party is the second-largest party in Peetongtan’s government, holding 69 seats out of 500 in the Thai House of Representatives. The Progress Thailand Party led by Peetongtan has over 140 seats. Other major alliance parties, such as the Democratic Party with 25 seats and the National Party with 10 seats, have also called for an emergency meeting to discuss whether to continue in the ruling coalition or withdraw from the government.
The withdrawal of the Thai Pride Party has left the ruling coalition with a slim majority of 261 seats in parliament. If another party follows suit and withdraws, Peetongtan will lose her majority.