Thousands of protesters gathered at Bangkok’s Victory Monument on Saturday, calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra following the emergence of a leaked phone call between her and former Cambodian leader Hun Sen.
The demonstration, organised by the Ruam Palang Paendin Pokpong Athipatai (United Power of the Land to Protect Sovereignty), marks the largest anti-government rally since the Pheu Thai Party came to power in 2023.
Deputy Metropolitan Police Bureau commissioner Pol Maj Gen Thawat Wongsanga said drone footage taken at 3:30pm estimated the crowd at around 6,000. Authorities anticipated the number would exceed 10,000 by nightfall.
Many of the attendees were over the age of 50 and veterans of previous protests against the administrations of Thaksin Shinawatra and Yingluck Shinawatra, the prime minister’s father and aunt.
While fewer protesters wore yellow shirts, once a hallmark of royalist rallies, many carried Thai flags and wore accessories reminiscent of the 2014 Bangkok Shutdown protests.
Despite intermittent rain sending people scrambling for shelter under skywalks, spirits remained high. Traffic in the area was manageable for most of the day, though congestion increased by the afternoon.
Authorities closed inbound lanes on Ratchawithi Road at noon and Phahon Yothin Road at 2pm, advising motorists to use the Din Daeng expressway underpass.
Protesters began arriving at the site as early as 9am, waving Thai flags and participating in a merit-making ceremony. Activities included speeches by protest leaders and live music performances on a stage facing Din Daeng Road.
Prominent political activists scheduled to speak included Jatuporn Prompan, Panthep Puaponfpan, Phichit Chaimongkol, and Sondhi Limthongkul.
Their speeches were set to follow a mass singing of the national anthem at 6pm, a symbolic act intended to signal unity in protecting Thailand’s sovereignty.
Ultra-royalist politician Warong Detkijwikrom also addressed the crowd, stating: “Unlike her father, who is corrupt, PM Paetongtarn simply sells the country to Cambodia.”
Organisers assured police that the rally would end by 9pm with no overnight occupation planned.
Police maintained a strong presence throughout the rally site, including along the skywalks where crowds and members of the media gathered. Over 200 CCTV cameras and drones were deployed, while explosive ordnance units and eight K9 dogs were on patrol.
By 4pm, police had confiscated seven knives and 17 box cutters at security checkpoints. One protester was arrested for assault after a scuffle with officers, while another was detained on an outstanding warrant under the Computer Crime Act, said MPB commander Pol Maj Gen Theeradej Thamsuthee.
Four ambulances were stationed nearby, with Police General Hospital, Phramongkutklao Hospital, and Rajavithi Hospital on alert for any emergencies.
Protesters Travel from Upcountry
Supporters from other provinces also made their way to Bangkok. In Nakhon Ratchasima, around 200 people gathered at the Thao Suranari Monument before departing in four buses and two vans, led by Supot Piriyakiatsakul of the People’s Patriotic Network.
“We are determined to fight to the very end to remove Paetongtarn from office,” Supot said.
In Phitsanulok, another group of 80 protesters left early Saturday in a tour bus and three vans, dressed in colourful shirts and waving Thai-flagged items.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn, who was in Chiang Rai inspecting flood damage, told reporters she had instructed security agencies to monitor the situation.
“It is their right to protest, and I personally have no intention to respond,” she said. She added that she is open to dialogue if the demonstrators wish to engage in peaceful discussions.
Judicial Pressure Mounting
The protest comes amid growing legal pressure on the prime minister. A group of senators recently petitioned both the Constitutional Court and the National Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate her conduct related to the leaked phone call.
The Constitutional Court is scheduled to meet on Tuesday to determine whether to accept the case, which could lead to Paetongtarn’s suspension pending a final ruling.
While previous protest movements did not immediately topple the Thaksin or Yingluck governments, they played a significant role in building momentum that led to judicial interventions and military coups in 2006 and 2014.
