The sudden trend of extreme nationalism should worry every citizen who is concerned for the future of this country. A Facebook-centred group called the Rubbish Collection Organisation has focused attention on the problem. RCO's founder says he and supporters will hunt down and "exterminate" those who insult the monarchy.
The RCO and similar nationalists come from a divisive and violent line of such groups, who have never helped Thailand in the past.
This rubbish collection is the work of Dr Rienthong Nanna, director of Mongkutwattana General Hospital in Chaeng Watthana.
He was in the news several times before getting RCO off the ground and into social media.
Dr Rienthong is well known as a strong and outspoken supporter of Suthep Thaugsuban's People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC). He has clashed verbally with supporters of the red shirts. His term "rubbish" for his targets, then, is already defined.
Human Rights Watch activist Sunai Phasuk has warned that the organisation is part of a disturbing movement, a "round of suppression". RCO's crusade, to identify and harass those who they define as anti-monarchist, is getting out of hand, he says.
It threatens to return the country to the terrible days of the mid-1970s, when groups such as Red Gaur and the Village Scouts inspired fear, division and the terrible violence which culminated in the 1976 massacre at Thammasat University.
RCO has already gone well beyond its own promises "to track down perpetrators of lese majeste acts".
Yesterday, it floated the idea of setting up an armed group, claiming it is for self-defence.
Last week, self-styled "patriots" also harassed the family of a Thai-born woman living in London, who has posted anti-monarchy messages on Facebook.
The parents of the woman, Surapong Amornphat and his wife Somjintana, were essentially forced to file police charges against their daughter. There is not the slightest hint that these parents have any anti-monarchy feelings.
Dr Rienthong's claim that the Rubbish Collectors would pursue those guilty of lese majeste has already veered far off track and into possible intimidation and threats of violence against innocent people.
Similar goals were expressed by Songkran Achariyasap, who claims to head "a civil network" to monitor and expose anti-Thai activity.
Last week, that meant fierce attacks and criminal lawsuits against a monk he claimed to have found wearing female clothes. Among several similar lawsuits, Mr Songkran filed charges against Saran Chuichai, the 20-year-old transgender Thammasat student better known as Aum Neko. She was photographed, claimed Mr Songkran, making an inappropriate gesture towards a Buddha image.
These are the hate-inspired tactics of similar groups of the 1970s. Claiming to be more pro-monarchy than others is, in fact, their identifying hallmark.
The use of words like "exterminate" in their campaign to find lese majeste perpetrators illustrates their actual goal. These groups parade their love of Thailand, monarchy and religion. But their real message is division, hatred and justifying violence.
Legally, the "Rubbish Collectors" and others have broken no laws. This is not the same as acceptable behaviour. These groups are the modern version of witch-hunters, finding evil where they choose to look.
The public should shun such extremist groups, who preach and spread hatred. It is unacceptable to subject the country to division that could lead to more bloodshed.