Tanakorn ‘Boss’ Wonglikitpanya and his friends at Khon Kaen’s Hua Kaew Witthayalai elementary school, say they were closely following the development of the country’s politics before joining the rally against acting Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra at Sa

Tanakorn came to the park with his parents on Sunday. Yet he was not merely tagging along, he insisted; he was here to express his own political opinions.

"I think the nation is in confusion so I want to do something," the precocious Grade 4 student said. "It doesn't matter that I'm only a boy because politics isn't a matter just for adults. Children should have a right to voice their opinions as well."

While the boy and his parents were travelling from the northeastern province of Khon Kaen to Sanam Luang in Bangkok, they learned about Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's decision to dissolve Parliament and call for a snap election. Yet they decided to continue their journey to Bangkok anyway so as to call for Thaksin's resignation at the rally.

"I had to come here to demand that [Thaksin] resign," the 10-year-old stressed. "I'm not worried about my exams. I've brought my textbooks with me," he added.

Tanakorn said that like his peers he had never had an interest in politics until "I once watched [anti-govt critic Sondhi Limthongkul's show] 'Muang Thai Weekly' on VCD with my mum and dad."

Roused by what he heard from speakers at the taped anti-government protest, Tanakorn began following political news closely. Soon he came to the conclusion that the prime minister had no legitimacy to cling to power.

"I started exchanging views with my classmates and asked my parents if I could join them at the rally on February 4," the boy said.

Tanakorn was awed by what he saw in Bangkok. The Royal Plaza was crowded with thousands and thousands of protesters, and Tanakorn was happy to experience the atmosphere of a political rally for the first time in person, not just via television.

As a full-fledged protester, Tanakorn made a point of joining in every adult activity, including tying a yellow cloth around his head and shouting out his demands. "I like it. It makes me feel high-spirited," he said.

His mother, Siriporn, said she did not want to hinder the boy in his mental development so she had been obliging when Tanakorn had asked her to let him accompany his parents to the rally in Bangkok. "He's still a boy, so his actions still come more from emotions than from reason, but we let him express his views," she said, adding: "We do keep a close eye on him."

Yanawat Pumpuang, also 10 and a classmate of Tanakorn in Khon Kaen, said that after he had talked politics with Tanakorn, he too became interested in politics and came around to the view that the prime minister had to go. "I wish I had an opportunity to join the rally too," Yanawat said.

The boys' teacher Savitree Chariya-apimavit said Tanakorn was more mature than most of his peers. The boy was confident and not afraid to speak up about whatever was on his mind, Savitree said.