Over the past two months, hundreds of thousands of demonstrators have picketed and blockaded at various places, including outside Government House, to exercise their right to protest. But to some, the demonstrators did not go far enough in showing their non-cooperation.

But Chaiyan did - and he did it in style. After ticking "no vote" on his ballots, he turned around to face onlookers and reporters at polling booth 62 at Triam Udom Suksa School in Bangkok's Suan Luang district and slowly ripped them in half. In so doing, he did what nobody has done before - he violated Article 108 of the Election Act on live TV. It will go down as one of the supreme acts of civil disobedience in this country's history.

Recently, when shopkeeper Jae Pimporn of Soi Lalaisarp in the capital's Silom area pointed her finger at Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and criticised him to his face, it shook the premier's image and confidence profoundly.

Chaiyan's action carried the same message to the electorate.

He knows that individuals can make a difference in any issue, at anytime, without waiting for other variables. He does not have to do what he has been told to do, if that person takes full responsibility for his actions. In this case, Chaiyan viewed Thaksin's dissolution of Parliament as an attempt to prevent an investigation into wrongdoings in his business activities. During his five-year reign, Thaksin has mixed business and politics and run Thailand as his own company.

Before Chaiyan, there were others who used hunger strikes, boycotts, sit-ins and demonstrations to show their defiance. But none was carried out as meticulously.

As head of his university's Department of Government Administration, he understands Thai politics and law. That explains why he came with a placard citing Article 65 of the Constitution, which empowers citizens to peacefully resist any attempt to seek power unconstitutionally. Two months ago, the same article was cited by Veera Musikapong, a leading supporter of the Thai Rak Thai Party, when he tried to discredit the People's Alliance for Democracy. But it did not have any impact.

Chaiyan will fight his case in court and has refused to pay a fine. Former senator Kaewsan Atibhodhi has already committed himself to providing legal assistance for Chaiyan. He knows this is a long-term struggle. Almost certainly, more lawyers will come to his rescue. His case will certainly drag on.

The high number of "no-votes" in Bangkok and the southern provinces in Sunday's snap poll demonstrates the sense of disdain for Thaksin common among urban Thai voters. They have refused to accept Thaksin as their constitutional leader. Instead of accepting the inevitable outcome of the election, Chaiyan decided to change the outcome.

Political pundits had speculated that if the long PAD demonstrations were to culminate in a "no-vote" campaign, many voters would cast such votes and could even end the ruling party's dominance.

Chaiyan's action will be studied and followed in many exercises of civil disobedience against the government in the weeks and months to come. Already, refusals or delays in paying taxes have emerged as another example of pro-active non-violent power that citizens can wield immediately. At the moment, the government is facing a shortage of funds with which to run the country. Without citizens paying their taxes properly and on time, the country could be brought to a standstill.

News Analysis

Political desk