Thailand, PM Shinawatra suspended for her phone gaffe

From our correspondent

NEW DELHI - The crisis that has been paralysing Thailand's political life for weeks took a new leap forward on Tuesday when the Constitutional Court suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra pending a ruling that could see her step down after less than a year at the helm of Southeast Asia's second largest economy.

The court announced that it had upheld a complaint filed by 36 senators accusing Shinawatra of violating the Constitution by conduct that was 'dishonest and disrespectful of ethical standards'. The accusations stem from the unauthorised disclosure of a telephone conversation between Shinawatra and former Cambodian leader Hun Sen, in which the 38-year-old Thai premier criticised a senior figure in her own army in connection with the recent rekindling of border tensions between the two countries.

The judges have given themselves 15 days to examine the case. In the meantime, the government will be headed by Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit, 70, one of the most experienced figures in Thai politics. Under a recent reshuffle, made necessary by the exit of a conservative party from the government, Shinawatra will continue to be part of the executive as Culture Minister from 3 July, when the new executive is scheduled to be sworn in.

The publication of the phone call with Hun Sen, who was Cambodia's strongman for decades before handing over power to his own son, provoked strong reactions in Bangkok. During the conversation, the 38-year-old Shinawatra takes a very reverential tone towards Hun Sen and above all criticises a Thai army commander, a politically very risky act in a country where the military exercises a role that goes far beyond border defence. In the Thai leader's intentions, the phone call should have remained private, but Hun Sen - no stranger to this kind of low blow - made sure it was made public.