Red-shirt leaders Natthawut Saikuar and Jatuporn Prompan seem to have succeeded in making the military fall into their political publicity trap, engineering their own arrest as they set off to visit Rajabhakti Park, the centre of a corruption scandal hitting the government. However, the red-shirt pair are unlikely to have the last laugh.
Mr Jatuporn and Mr Natthawut were arrested while on their way to the park on Monday.
The military, already deeply stung by the park scandal, was obviously upset by the political move. They detained the pair for 10 hours before releasing them, warning the duo not to instigate any more activities "undermining national security", or risk being arrested.
They were made to sign a document in which they agreed not to take part in certain activities.
Mr Jatuporn remains defiant. The next day, he told Peace TV, a red-shirt media outlet, that the military could not accept his comment that the park project is ridden with corruption.
The military has set up a panel to probe the matter, which is still not finished, he was told.
But such an internal investigation is unacceptable, he argued. When soldiers are asked to investigate their own colleagues and bosses, the findings will never be credible. Such a political tactic will also fail to clear up public doubts about the project.
The red-shirt duo may have succeeded in pleasing their political "master", de facto Pheu Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra, but the regime's response will in turn shake their political boss to the core.
The same day the military arrested Mr Natthawut and Mr Jatuporn, the Department of Special Investigation announced it would summon Panthongtae Shinawatra, Thaksin's only son, to be quizzed about his role in a loan extended by Krungthai Bank to the Krisda Mahanakorn Group.
Pol Lt Col Somboon Sarasith said the DSI is investigating the money trail concerning the 9.9-billion-baht loan.
The DSI has asked the Securities and Exchange Commission for more details.
He said the money trail suggests that some loans with links to Mr Panthongtae might have been used to buy shares in the Airports of Thailand as part of a money-laundering attempt.
The DSI will summon 32 people, including Mr Panthongtae, to be quizzed.
Before this announcement, former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra was Thaksin's main worry as the government sought to exact political vengeance against her.
She is not only being sued for her role in the rice-pledging scandal, but she also might have to pay over 100 billion baht in damages wrought by the scheme.
Thanks to the DSI, Thaksin now has worries on a new front, concerning his son.
The regime's offensive shows this present set of coup-makers is much tougher than the previous one.
All channels for political negotiations are closed.
No matter how much the red shirts have used social media to discredit the regime and exploit the corruption scandal as part of their political moves, the military still have a firm grip on the situation.
Actually, the regime has already found a solution to stem the Rajabhaki Park political fallout. Any investigations are unlikely to reach high-ranking people in the governnment and National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).
The Office of the Auditor-General also is looking into spending of 63 million baht in state funds on clearing the 222-rai plot of army land for construction of the statues. But it is most likely the investigation will find nothing shady.
More importantly, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon, the government's manager, still have effective control over the military at all levels. This means their power remains secure.
As to the future of the embattled Gen Udomdej Sitabutr, who serves as deputy defence minister, NCPO member, and chairman of the Rajabhakti Foundation, Gen Prayut's latest comment on the issue is instructive.
"Wait for the investigation results first," he said. "Whether he resigns will not affect the NCPO anyway because the NCPO comprises the four armed forces,'' he said.
Gen Prawit takes a similar line to his boss. He earlier told the media there is no need for him to talk to Gen Udomdej personally about what he should do because "he used to be an army chief; he's no longer a kid".
Their common stance shows what the government and NCPO have in mind as they seek to reduce political pressure from the Rajabhakti Park scandal.
The recent red-shirt challenge can be seen as an effort by Thaksin to pressure the military regime for a political solution.
But the move has clearly backfired. The regime's move to go after Thaksin's son could bring more bad news for the Shinawatras, who are already facing trouble on the rice scheme front.
Nattaya Chetchotiros is Assistant News Editor, Bangkok Post.