From the moment they seized power from Thaksin Shinawatra, Thailand's interim rulers have always been in danger of becoming "him". They fear he might come back. They fear the media could undermine its stability. They fear his grass-roots supporters might create trouble. While these fears are understandable, they must be overcome as soon as possible, simply because they will consume them otherwise and the result will be disastrous.

Thaksin was feeling insecure, despite having a solid political mandate. That was why he co-opted more politicians into his party, tried to control and interfere with the media, infiltrated the Senate and guarded against a good checks-and-balances system. That was why he viewed all critics as enemies who deserved nothing more than ridicule and containment. He didn't realise that the best shield for a leader is not total domination, but tolerance, acceptance of diversity and of course honesty. Thaksin had great fears and, instead of trying to fight them, allowed himself to be dictated to by them.

He has been beaten as of now. But he will eventually win if the interim leaders fall into the same trap. "Winning" here doesn't necessarily mean Thaksin will manage to stage a comeback. The "Thaksin way" could strike back with or without the man. If it happens the September 19 coup will be not only to no avail but also something of an absolute absurdity. If it happens, the man the interim leaders have sworn to put away for good will laugh the loudest and Thailand will cry forever.

Now all eyes are on those who toppled Thaksin citing, among various reasons, his abuse of power. It's not an easy position to be in when issues like martial law and freedom of assembly are concerned. Pro-Thaksin demonstrations could erupt once full freedom is restored and they might even be boosted by people who do not support the deposed leader but are incensed by the military's intervention in politics.

For Thaksin lovers and haters, an intriguing role reversal could be around the corner. When martial law is lifted, protracted pro-Thaksin protests taking place and being transformed into a pro-democracy movement is not too far-fetched a scenario.

It would then be the anti-Thaksin movements' turn to be questioned, defied and challenged where freedom, openness and tolerance are concerned.

But the bottom line is that the interim leaders should not be dictated to by fear or the urge to keep everything under control. Trying to reach an understanding with the majority of Thais is an urgent must.

A good sign is that Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont seems to realise this. He has gone so far as refreshing his ties with former communist insurgents in their stronghold provinces of Sakhon Nakhon and Buri Ram in the Northeast. His humble yet highly significant visits to these people at the weekend were seen as an attempt to divert the group's support from the Thai Rak Thai party to the military-installed government.

It's this kind of strategy that he and his government should employ. But bad steps have been taken. The junta-picked National Legislative Assembly could as well be called an anti-Thaksin assembly. The heavy presence of active and retired military officers in the chamber has also attracted strong criticism. To add to the list of unsettling developments, some civic groups have threatened to boycott the constitution-drafting process and draft a parallel charter.

The road ahead seems strewn with land-mines and flash points. But it has been proved that Thaksin's "only the paranoid survive" motto cannot work in a society where the spirit of democracy is this strong. Only sincerity can see the interim leaders through this precarious situation, for when one is totally sincere, he should have no fear.

Diversity, tolerance, honesty and integrity must be the key words. Thaksin's reign lacked these, and he had to go despite overwhelming power in almost all aspects of politics. The interim leaders can only fight Thaksin by promoting these values and by overcoming the natural fears that ate into and finally doomed him, even if it means making themselves vulnerable to potential setbacks from time to time.