By Zach Hope
Siem Reap: A Thai court has suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra while it considers whether her handling of a border dispute with Cambodia has been so fawning to the other side as to warrant her sacking.
Thailand鈥檚 fractious political scene has been particularly turbulent since a leaked phone conversation in June between Paetongtarn and Cambodia鈥檚 de facto ruler, Hun Sen, in which she denigrated a senior Thai commander 鈥 a major faux pas in Thailand 鈥 while also offering to 鈥渢ake care of鈥 whatever Cambodia wanted.
Hun Sen, who is both the president of the Cambodian senate and the Cambodian People鈥檚 Party, admitted to recording the conversation and sending it to about 80 people. When it hit the media, Paetongtarn was not only embarrassed but was left scrambling for her political survival.
鈥淭he contempt on a regional army commander is contempt on the Thai monarch,鈥 Hun Sen said in a nearly four-hour speech last week. 鈥淥nly the king issues the royal decree to appoint an army general.鈥