It spread from the Philippines to leave a legacy of mostly peaceful political change in several countries around the world: in Poland, then in the former Czechoslovakia and in more recent times, through democratic revolutions in Georgia and Ukraine. The People Power movement was inspired in no small measure by the daring non-violent movement of Mahatma Gandhi that was responsible for purging India of British rule. And peaceful civil disobedience has since become an effective political tool of the oppressed with which to show their disapproval of dictatorial regimes everywhere.

Many studies have been written about the impact that People Power has had on democracy - or the lack thereof - in the Philippines. Manila's modern cityscape may have undergone tremendous changes over these past two decades, but the lives of most Filipinos remain mired in poverty. The economic situation there is simply deplorable. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, a direct beneficiary of the Edsa protests, has completely failed the Filipino public. And now, even her democratic allies have turned against her and want to pressure her out of office, because of rampant corruption and gross inefficiency in her administration. But the biggest frustrations are those that are felt by the vast majority of citizens - the mass of poor living as squatters in Manila and upcountry. They expected democracy to improve their standard of living and bring about a brighter future. Luckily, the Filipinos' world-renowned resiliency has prevented even this worst of situations from dampening their spirits in any way, nor is the freedom they have enjoyed since the fall of Marcos viewed cynically.

Thailand has itself gone through its own versions of People Power in the past. In all three bloody uprisings that have occurred here since 1973, mostly peaceful demonstrators were subjected to the use of lethal force by government security forces. A high price was paid in the struggle for democracy in the form of lives lost.

Some Thai historians assert that Thailand's October 1973 uprising, which toppled the Thanom-Prapas military dictatorship, actually inspired the Filipinos to rise up against their own strongman, Marcos. State-sanctioned violence against unarmed protesters ultimately caused the collapse of the Thai regime, the brutal killings having deprived the leaders of all legitimacy to rule.

Now fast-forward to today. The anti-Thaksin movement has recently begun to gather momentum. Protesters will converge on Sanam Luang tomorrow in what is expected to be our largest expression yet of People Power. They will come together with the same objective in mind: delivering the same message to a beleaguered Thaksin Shinawatra that he no longer possesses the legitimacy or moral authority to rule.

Even though the House dissolution announced by Thaksin last night is a legitimate means of addressing the current political crisis, it should not be allowed to distract attention from the real issues of Thaksin's actions over the past five years and his lack of fitness to rule. Thailand's People Power movement must be prepared for a long, hard fight to drive home that message to the public at large, even if the Thai Rak Thai Party is returned to power with another House majority.

Anti-Thaksin activists say they will go ahead and stage Sunday's anti-Thaksin rally. They must see to it that their protest will be peaceful and not allow emotions to get the better of their good judgement. Government security forces must also exercise restraint in ensuring peace and order.

No one said the struggle for fuller democracy would be quick or easy.