Colonel Sansern Kaewkam-nerd said the Council for National Security (CNS) would discuss Chaturon's actions today. It has assigned officers from the Second Army Region, which has authority over northeastern provinces, to "check" on the real motives behind his visit.

Chaturon went to the Northeast on Sunday and yesterday and spoke with groups as large as 300. He said the CNS did not scare him and it had no right to impose the ban.

Sansern explained politicians had no need to travel the country explaining policies, saying they were "not the government now".

"The CNS allows politicians to meet together but not to visit people. However, Chaturon can meet people if he visits in a private capacity but not in the name of his party," the junta spokesman added.

"If we consider Chaturon has broken the CNS announcement, we will invite him to explain," he said.

He admitted Chaturon's actions could be considered a "challenge" to CNS authority but added it was yet to be determined if the former deputy prime minister had done anything wrong.

Yesterday's appearances in Khon Kaen by Chaturon attracted fewer people. There was some opposition to his visit by residents, too.

Chaturon toured a fresh market with former party members of Parliament. Ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra once visited the same market where supporters thronged him. Chaturon's call attracted few.

He told listeners the Thai Rak Thai Party would remain true to its signature populist policies.

He promised to reveal to a news conference at the party's headquarters on Sunday if those policies were considered contrary to the sufficiency-economy theory favoured by the military-backed government.

He said he had seen the results of his former government's policies during his visit.

Last Sunday, Chaturon told Kalasin listeners many still supported Thai Rak Thai policies - even if the junta had changed their names.

After the Khon Kaen-market visit, Chaturon and his entourage attended the 36th anniversary of Sri Kranuan Wittayakom School where he had been asked to deliver an address.

But, a group of 50 residents demonstrated his presence. Banners told Chaturon he should quit Thai Rak Thai if he wanted to make a political comeback.

Protest leader Dej Tetnoi disagreed with the school's decision to invite Chaturon and said it was extended because its director was a relative of a former provincial member of Parliament, Chatuporn Charoencheua.

He alleged the school had a "hidden agenda" because it did not invite provincial dignitaries to attend. The group called for the school director to resign.

Democrat party deputy leader Witoon Nambutr believed the trip was simply to revive party spirit after many members quit following the coup. He said yesterday Thai Rak Thai's popularity in the Northeast had waned and former supporters were now "disappointed" in it.

Panya Thiewsangwan,

Samatcha Hoonsara

The Nation