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Published on October 1, 2007

Newin painted the same unappealing picture for the People Power Party rally that he'd fed to a crowd at Sanam Luang - him in his Y-fronts skittering out the door of an Army van.

Sonthi and the Army might have scored more points by producing photos of Newin in his undies, but they chose to play it straight and call him a liar, showing reporters Newin's "prison diary". It was a record of what he did - and ate - every day of his week in military custody following the coup.

The menu sounds actually not too bad, quite nutritious (fruit with every meal) and considerably better than what the Nation canteen serves. On Day 3 Newin was presented with an Isaan-style feast of larb and sticky rice (which he polished off) and somtam and barbecued chicken (which he didn't).

His custodians also noted, without editorialising, that "he always looks at the back door", and that he expressed concern for his guards because they were stuck outside his room where it was much hotter.

The junta must be pretty pleased that it kept such detailed records, especially now that they've come in rather handy. Newin's audiences might not be so sympathetic next time he starts hollering "Attica! Attica!"

He was certainly better off than his boss: Newin was getting a full night's sleep while Thaksin must have been pacing the floor well past midnight and, being in New York, the ex-PM couldn't exactly order up some somtam.