 In 1971 Non raised his political profile by directing a moderately successful military operation, "Akineth Moha Padevuth", driving Communist guerrillas from villages around National Route 3 (Akineth was a wizard and hermit in the "Reamker" on whom Non seems to have modelled himself).By early 1972 Lon Non finally managed to drive Sirik Matak from the government after organising groups of students to demonstrate against him.When, later in 1972, presidential elections were held, Non boasted that the monolithic vote of the Khmer National Armed Forces had secured his brother's inevitable victory.