The junta is imposing a regime of "forced smiles" on an unwilling populace as their rights are progressively eroded, says Human Rights Watch (HRW).
This report released Monday by Human Rights Watch has drawn the ire of the foreign ministry's permanent secretary Sihasak Phuangketkeow.
The Foreign Ministry quickly countered the claims, insisting martial law is not as bad as portrayed.
HRW on Monday said the junta imposes "rights-abusing martial law powers’’, media censorship and persecutes dissidents.
"Two months of military rule in Thailand has brought alarming setbacks in respect for basic human rights,’” said HRW Asia director Brad Adams.
“The junta claims it’s returning ‘happiness’ to the nation, but it is actually enforcing a regime of forced smiles by prohibiting criticism, imposing aggressive censorship, and arbitrarily putting hundreds in detention,” he said.
Ministry spokesman Sek Wannametee said the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) had no policy to censor the media and martial law was imposed to reconcile conflicting groups.
Mr Sek added there had been no reaction from foreign countries about the temporary constitution promulgated on Tuesday and he believed that all nations would understand the constitution, which creates a National Legislative Assembly.
The Foreign Ministry is preparing to translate the document into English for foreign countries to understand.
It will send the constitution to Thai embassies and consuls-general around the world as the basis for clarifying the latest developments.
Meanwhile, ministry permanent secretary Sihasak Phuangketkeow says he has sought better understanding from the European Union over the military coup while attending the 20th Asean-EU ministerial meeting in Belgium this week.
The EU is hosting this year's 20th Ministerial Meeting with Asean, now under way in Brussels.
Mr Sihasak, who is also acting foreign minister, said he had clarified the situation at several events aside from the Asean-EU meeting and also spoke to the EU’s chief operating officer of the European External Action Service, David O’Sullivan, who reiterated the EU’s stance and measures to respond to the coup.
Mr Sihasak said he urged the EU not to jump to conclusions since Thailand plans its own path to build a sustainable democracy and the EU senior official pledged to review the measures if the situation improves.
“The EU still recognises Thailand as an important partner and did not respond to the coup with sanctions. But bilateral ties will move forward under its limited regulations since the EU has a platform to deal with [countries under coups]”, Mr Sihasak said.
“I was told the EU hopes to see Thailand return to democracy by holding an election in the near future. They wanted to see a process in which all Thais can take part,’’ Mr Sihasak added.
He also met some members of the European Parliament.
He said they understand Thai politics, especially the situation before the coup, and said there were limited options to solve the political turmoil.