So, the fragile relationship between the interim government and its military backers and Thai journalists has survived another scare. The urgent lunch invitation had triggered wild speculation because it came at a time when the print media, relatively free from state control in the wake of the coup, were stepping up their aggressive style of old and asking all kinds of questions. One wrong word by Surayud could have caused damage difficult to repair. It turned out that he was smart enough. More importantly, he seemed to appreciate the role and merit of a free media - more so than a few democratically elected leaders.

"Next year will be very important to the future of our country, and what I'm going to ask is not something beyond your capability. I just want to call on all of you to truly realise that you have a big role to play in leading this country through this very critical juncture," Surayud said. He called on the media to be quick, accurate and truthful in giving the Thai public necessary information on political reform as well as corruption.

In August, 2004, when then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was upset by a Krungthep Turakij report questioning his village-fund scheme, he erupted: "I don't care that I'm hated, but please love the country. This kind of report damages our country."

It's not just about different choices of words. The two men's remarks apparently reflect different attitudes toward the media as well, at least for now. While Surayud apparently recognises the media's role as a watchdog and a two-way communications channel through which public voices can be heard, Thaksin regarded criticism of him as an unpatriotic act. Thaksin's attempts to control or "co-opt" the media fly in the face of claims that his downfall was a blow to democracy.

The hard thing for Surayud is how to stay "positive" about the Thai media. It can't be stated often enough that men in power can easily fall into the "I-am-the-state" trap, which makes them see critical media as enemies of the state. The strange thing about media freedom is that it is the thing you most appreciate when you are outside the realm of power. The real test of how democratic you are comes when you are in charge and the heat is shifted upon you. That is when the concept of checks and balances becomes something of a threat to "stability".

As one senior editor pointed out during the question-and-answer session at Government House on Wednesday, the requested "cooperation" was not going to come free either. The interim leadership, including the coup-makers who overthrew the Thaksin government in September, was also asked to really respect media rights when it comes to negative reports, analyses or comments against it - even though this is make-or-break time for modern Thailand. The editors also expect the Surayud government to introduce legal amendments to facilitate the release of official information that could help expose corruption.

The next year will see heated and intense national debate on issues that will hit the interim leadership's raw nerves. With Thailand poised to, as Surayud put it, "make a big choice", matters like whether the prime minister must be elected will be explored inside-out. There will be seminars, hard-hitting opinion articles, or even demonstrations, to support each side of the argument. The media can help make it a healthy and constructive debate, but the most important players are the ones holding power.

Tolerance is the key word. Without full freedom of expression, the ouster of Thaksin will be even harder to understand, and Surayud's promise of true reform will fall flat.