Thai PM Suspended Over Leaked Call After Deadly Border Clash with Cambodia

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra found herself sidelined from office on Tuesday, caught in the crosshairs of an ethics probe sparked by a leaked phone call with Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen. The conversation, which ignited a firestorm of controversy, followed a deadly border clash in May 2025 that left one Cambodian soldier dead and tensions simmering.

The Constitutional Court in Thailand didn’t hold back, unanimously agreeing that Paetongtarn’s actions warranted scrutiny and voting 7-2 to suspend her, giving her just 12 days to present evidence in her defense. The leaked call, a diplomatic tightrope walk, was meant to cool tensions after the border incident, but instead, it fueled public outrage and protests across Bangkok. "My true intention was to protect our sovereignty and save lives," Paetongtarn insisted, defending her efforts to avoid further bloodshed.

The border dispute itself is a murky affair. Cambodian officials claim their troops were on a routine patrol when Thai forces opened fire. Thailand counters that Cambodian soldiers strayed into a contested zone, prompting a response to gunfire. The truth, as always, lies buried in the fog of conflict, but the fallout has been crystal clear: Paetongtarn’s leadership is on shaky ground.

Thailand’s political landscape is no stranger to upheaval. Paetongtarn’s predecessor, Srettha Thavisin, was ousted last year over a similar ethics violation, signaling that the country’s courts are keeping a tight leash on its leaders. As protests swell and the clock ticks down, Paetongtarn’s fate hangs in the balance, with the specter of regional tensions looming large.