Council for National Security chairman General Sonthi Boonyaratglin dines with former premier Chavalit Yongchaiyudh last night. At the weekend Sonthi lambasted Chavalit for demanding the CNS allow ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to return to Thai

General Vinai Phattiyakul contacted General Surin Phikulthong, who was his classmate in Class Six of the Pre-Cadet Military School, and asked for a meeting to create a better understanding with Chava-lit, who had sharply criticised the performance of the military rulers.

At 6.10pm, General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, the chairman of the Council for National Security (CNS), made his way to Chavalit's home at Soi Pinpraphakom, along with General Vinai, the permanent secretary for defence, in his official limousine. Then General Boon-sang Niempradit, the supreme commander, ACC Chalit Phuk-phasuk, the Air Force chief, Gen-eral Spreung Kalyanamit, the deputy Army chief, Pol General Kowit Watana, the police chief, General Anupong Phaochinda, another deputy Army chief, and Admiral Sathiraphand Keyanond, the royal Navy chief, also came along.

Chavalit was dressed in a casual white dress. He personally welcomed each of the CNS members before they went into his guest room for talks. General Surin Phikulthong also joined in the conversation.

Their dinner came from Radisson Hotel. More than 100 reporters waiting outside the house were treated to pork and beef noodles.

After the meeting, Chavalit said the military rulers admitted they were probably weak when it came to communicating with the public about their mission.

"Nobody knows that the Council for National Security has asked the government that it be allowed to tackle poverty problems," Chavalit said.

As for the unrest in the South, he and the military rulers agreed that the local people must be allowed to follow their customs and traditions, while the authorities must abide by the law in tackling the unrest, while also relying on peaceful means.

Chavalit said it was necessary for the military rulers to inform the public about the progress they have made in the post-coup period.

"Every member of the CNS listened to my proposal because we are all brothers. We are speaking on the basis of mutual understanding," he added.

Last Friday, Chavalit dropped a bombshell by sharply criticising the CNS, who he said had failed to communicate with the Thai public about the intention of the coup and to listen to public opinion.

Chavalit, who has had very little public role during the post-coup period, said he was unhappy that the CNS was sending generals to sit on the boards of state enterprises.

Chavalit, who is believed to have played a part in bringing down Thaksin Shinawatra, created further rift with the military rulers by suggesting that Thaksin be allowed to return to Thailand and be put under a house arrest. This, he said, would make it more convenient for the interim government to monitor his movements.

The following day, General Sonthi lost his cool. He hit back at Chavalit and questioned the old general's motive in trying to get Thaksin back at a time when the country was far from achieving political stability.

Chavalit was known to have had a very close relationship with Thaksin in the past, helping to build up the support base for Thaksin both militarily and politically. The Thai Rak Thai MPs in the Northeast are mostly former members of the New Aspiration Party, founded by Chavalit, and later merged with Thai Rak Thai.

General Surayud Chulanont, the prime minister, had to come out on Sunday to clear all uncertainties by stressing that Thaksin could not come back at this time and might have to wait until the new government was formed, which would be a year from now.