Thailand's Prime Minister Faces Suspension Amid Controversy

In a surprising turn of events, Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is now on temporary leave from her duties. This comes after a court decided to look into a phone call she had with a Cambodian leader that was leaked to the public. The court's decision was unanimous, and they gave Paetongtarn 15 days to present her side of the story. This all started when a phone call between Paetongtarn and Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen was made public. The call sparked anger and protests, especially after a recent border clash between Thailand and Cambodia that left one Cambodian soldier dead. Paetongtarn has been under fire for her handling of the border dispute and the contents of the leaked call. In the call, she was heard discussing the situation with Hun Sen, which some people saw as trying to avoid conflict but others saw as a sign of weakness. Paetongtarn has said she will cooperate with the investigation and that her only goal is to keep the peace. She also apologized to those who were upset by the call. Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Jungrungruangkit is expected to step in as acting prime minister, though this has not been officially confirmed yet. This is not the first time a Thai prime minister has faced such a situation. Last year, Paetongtarn's predecessor was also removed from office due to an ethics violation. The Thai courts, especially the Constitutional Court, are known for their role in political disputes, often siding with the royalist establishment. The controversy has also led to a reshuffle in the cabinet, with King Maha Vajiralongkorn endorsing changes after a major party left Paetongtarn's coalition. It's still unclear what role Paetongtarn will play in the new cabinet, as she has taken on the position of culture minister but has not yet been sworn in. The protests calling for Paetongtarn's resignation have been growing, with thousands of people taking to the streets in central Bangkok. The situation is still developing, and it remains to be seen how this will all play out.