Thailand Constitutional Court Sacks PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra

Thailand's Constitutional Court removed Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from office on Friday after it found her guilty of ethics and integrity violations in a leaked call with former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, as per reports.

The nine-judge court said Paetongtarn had put her personal interests over that of the nation and damaged the country’s reputation.

Earlier, the court had suspended Paetongtarn on July 1 pending an outcome in the trial.

With this ruling, Paetongtarn becomes the fifth prime minister since 2008 to be stripped of office by Thai judges.

As per the court, the 39-year-old politician had violated the ethical standards required of a prime minister during her call with Hun Sen in June, in which she discussed efforts to prevent an escalation of a deadly border conflict.

In the leaked conversation, Paetongtarn was heard pandering to Hun Sen and calling him "uncle", while criticising a senior Thai army commander and describing him as an "opponent".

On July 24, clashes erupted between Thailand and Cambodia due to disputed area abutting the ancient temple that led to at least 36 people killed and more than 150,000 civilians displaced on both sides of their 800-kilometre border.

On July 28, Thailand's Acting Prime Minister, Phumtham Wechayachai, and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet agreed to an unconditional ceasefire to end the deadliest border conflict in more than a decade, after a push by the US and regional powers for a diplomatic resolution.