Victory Monument erupts in protest against PM despite heavy rain

Protesters packed the area around the Victory Monument and stayed put through heavy rain, while protest leaders took turns to address the crowd, lambasting both Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and her father, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The skywalks in the area were also packed with protesters, many of whom came from the provinces to demand Prime Minister Paetongtarn’s resignation.

Eight migrant workers, including seven Myanmar nationals and one Cambodian, were arrested by police as they were travelling in a pickup truck near the protest site.

They claimed that they were not joining the rally, but came to collect their belongings from the Lat Phrao area. Police held them for further questioning, but no charges were filed.

The rally today resembled the “Bangkok Shutdown” protest of 2014, against the government of then prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, although the crowd then was much larger.

Hun Sen leaked details of his conversation with Paetongtarn, in which she referred to him as "uncle" and described a Thai military commander as her "opponent."

Paetongtarn, the youngest daughter of Thaksin, was criticized for kowtowing to Cambodia and undermining Thailand's military.

Thousands of demonstrators filled the streets, waving Thai flags and cheering during speeches interspersed with live music.

"I'm here to protect Thailand's sovereignty and to say the PM is unfit," said 70-year-old protester Seri Sawangmue, who travelled overnight by bus from the country's north to attend.

"After I heard the leaked call, I knew I couldn't trust her," he told AFP. "I've lived through many political crises and I know where this is going. She's willing to give up our sovereignty."

Jamnong Kalana, 64, said she was once a "Red Shirt" but had now changed her colours and was demanding Paetongtarn's resignation.

"I feel full of pain when I see a fellow Thai who doesn't love the country like I do," she said.

Thai authorities said more than 1,000 police and 100 city officials had been deployed for the event which remained peaceful early on Saturday afternoon.

Paetongtarn was visiting flood-hit Chiang Rai in the north but before departing Bangkok she told reporters: "It's their right to protest, as long as it's peaceful".

Photos by Thai PBS