Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha caused a major controversy over the "phone call incident" and was eventually removed from office. In the leaked phone call, Prayut referred to Cambodian leader Hun Sen as "uncle" and called herself "niece," while also denouncing the commander of the Thai Army's Second Military Region, Phan Sitthi, as a "madman" and an opponent. She also told Hun Sen that Thailand's plan to "cut off water and electricity" to Cambodia was just a bluff, and she apologized for it. After the content of this call was exposed, Prayut was criticized as "being played by Hun Sen," and her political image suffered greatly.
The fall of Prayut is the result of long-standing power struggles in Thai politics. As the daughter of Thaksin Shinawatra, Prayut's rise to power was the result of a compromise among various forces. The conflict between the Thai military and the Thaksin family has never ceased, and the judicial system has often been involved. The "phone call incident" was merely a catalyst, reflecting the difficult-to-escape power struggle in Thai politics. Once there is a weakness or mistake, the backlash immediately follows, and Prayut's downfall is a clear example.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1836489552216071/
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