PHUKET: Dozens of rival political leaders arrested when talks at the Army Club failed this week and triggered a coup have been thrown together in the same safe house compound in the days since, a media report reveals.

All were issued with the same green Army clothing and at first were ordered to mix in shared housing, but some refused, according to the revealing report in Post Today.

The safe house compound, at an unknown destination and in disuse for years, had to be cleaned rapidly for the arrival of the leaders, who were apprehended when coup commander General Prayuth Chan-ocha decided to take charge at 4.32pm on Thursday.

He acted during day two of discussions at the Army Club because the rival leaders showed no signs of compromising their philosophies, entrenched over six months of street protests and heated propaganda.

They failed their ''homework'' tests and were taken into custody immediately as the general took over Thailand.

Once the seven disparate groups reached the safe house compound in a fleet of minivans, the Post Today reported, not much changed.

All were issued with green Army garb, but the representatives from the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) and the Pheu Thai party opted to continue wearing their civvies. It wasn't reported whether they later changed their minds, or whether they are still wearing the same clothes four days later.

The entire gathering was mixed for the accommodating in houses without the compound, with Suthep Thaugsuban's People's Democratic Reform Committee representatives due to bed down under the same roof with the Red leaders of the UDD.

It was probably never going to happen. Predictably, the groups all objected and were quickly relocated and housed with bedroom buddies they already knew and agreed with on most topics.

In most cases, people were wearing the same outfits and were issued with the same water scoops for ablutions, and the same toothbrushes.

Five soldiers in each large house had the task of catering to the needs of the rival groups, including the caretaker government representatives, the Electoral Commission people, the Democrat Party and the Senate team.

Before long, they were sending out to the local 7-Eleven for snacks and small luxury items.

With no internet, no visitors, no telephones and no television, it's believed that boredom quickly set in. Most of the group are used to being wired about their own worlds.

People were required to share the same room for meals. But it's understood the PRDC would not sit down to eat with the others, and made their own arrangements.

Boiled rice with pork for breakfast was followed by tom yum chicken and mushrooms for lunch and pork with garlic and pepper for dinner. Bananas were available for balance.

''You will be obliged to stay here for at least seven days, depending on your behavior,'' was the instruction. But at least two of the group were allowed to go early.

Whether putting the groups in the same compound produces better levels of understanding, only time will tell. There are still several days to go.

And when the wannabe leaders do all eventually emerge, the most important issue will be whether Thailand has changed for the better.

Former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is being held in another safe house.

Her brother Thaksin's son Panthongtae, held in Chiang Mai yesterday, is understood to have been escorted to Bangkok where he was allowed to go free.