Bangkok: Senator Somchai has suggested that Prime Minister and Minister of Culture Paetongtarn Shinawatra should step down from her position before the court delivers its decision on an audio clip controversy, coinciding with her birthday this year. He argues that the issue is more significant than those faced by three former prime ministers. Senator Somchai highlighted that Harvard University textbooks focus on business negotiations, lacking insights on political negotiations. He urged the National Security Council (NSC) Secretary-General to prioritize national security over the security of politicians.
According to Thai News Agency, former Senator Somchai Sawaengkarn revealed his intent to attend the Constitutional Court hearing of this high-profile case. He has filed requests to the court, expressing confidence in the honesty of the testimonies, including that of National Security Council Secretary-General Chatchai Bangchuad. Somchai anticipates that the court will raise pertinent questions concerning his request, supplementing the statements from Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Minister of Culture. He believes the proceedings will serve as valuable material for legal education and plans to include the gathered information in his petition to the central investigative police.
In response to potential additional inquiries from the court, Somchai mentioned his experience prompting him to focus on security-related issues, as the NSC Secretary-General is one of the key defendants. He referenced a series of events that began with a National Security Council meeting on June 6th, where military leaders were tasked with proposing border security measures by June 16th, 2025. However, the situation escalated when Paetongtarn called Cambodian Senate President Samdech Hun Sen on June 15th, 2025, followed by a controversial message from Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet regarding border crossings. This communication led to a video release by Hun Sen and subsequent military clashes at the border, resulting in injuries and fatalities, particularly affecting hospitals and schools.
Somchai emphasized the need for the NSC Secretary-General to clarify how these events benefit the nation, stressing that his responsibility is to national security rather than politician protection. He anticipated that the defendant’s statements, crafted with legal assistance, would be scrutinized by the court. Somchai criticized the misuse of a Harvard University textbook on trade negotiations, arguing that it lacks relevance to political and armed conflicts, which require diplomatic and security agency oversight. The audio clip in question, he asserted, reveals ethical breaches and dishonesty, violating the Code of Ethics for Political Officials.
In addition, Somchai extended birthday wishes to Paetongtarn, suggesting that her resignation would lead to the case’s dismissal. However, if she chooses to remain, she has a week until August 29, 2025, to decide. Drawing from his experience with the Constitutional Court, Somchai advised that the court would act impartially. He noted that if the prime minister trusts in the evidence, she should remain in office. Nonetheless, he believes this case’s severity surpasses previous cases involving Samak Sundaravej, Yingluck Shinawatra, and Settha Thavisin, marking it as the most serious to date.