The Council for National Security and the Surayud government are scheduled to report on their progress, in other words accomplishments, at a press conference tomorrow. They must be straightforward and tangible in their report as public expectations are threatening to turn into outrage. The report will serve as a barometer as to whether the interim leadership will survive and succeed in fulfilling its task for restoring democracy.

The interim leaders must zero in on three questions with rock-solid assuredness.

First, how and when the government will charge those who have corrupted the nation's bourse?

For more than five months, members of the Asset Investigation Committee have done their investigation thoroughly on more than two dozen scandals involved nearly a dozen Cabinet ministers under the Thaksin administration.

The public needs to be informed of the progress of these investigations and the reports must specify which cases, on what grounds and evidence, would be brought forward and go to court. Any delay would only undermine the stability of the interim leaders themselves. Second, the CNS and the interim government must assure the public they will not stay longer than one year as earlier pledged.

As well, the public needs to know what kinds of political reforms the government expects to make in the next six months, apart from the ongoing constitution drafting. Political reform is the test of this government, and the public will pass their judgement based on the direction and promises of this agenda.

The government must be candid on controversial issues, for instance the nature and scope of political institutions that will be set up or how expansive will be civil participatory politics.

Third, one of the least mentioned but most vexing issues in Thai society today is the question of lese majeste.

Nobody knows how many people have been charged both under this and previous governments.

The interim leaders must come forward and explain how many cases have been filed and what would be the possible outcomes.

This issue has been reported widely abroad and often linked to the lack of freedom of expression inside the country. They reiterate that lese majeste is the main reason why the media has imposed self-censorship.

The past six months have been long ones for the Thai people. But the next six months will be doubly arduous for the interim leaders. Keeping a promise, after all, is always tougher than being given one.