On the surface, Thailand appears quiet on the political front, with relative peace and order as it enters another stage of the political roadmap.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has repeatedly said there are only a few "small stubborn bad guys or groups" who disagree with his administration.
But if we look more closely, difficulties churn under the seeming calm.
Individuals and civic groups who try to break the silence complain of being harassed — if not arrested and charged — when they gather for a political cause, such as to call for freedom of expression or voting rights, as the military maintains tight control on Thai citizens for the purpose of security.
Among them is human rights lawyer Anon Nampa who was recently hit with five charges after joining a mock art event, Lak Luaktang or "stolen elections", in a symbolic protest against military rule.
In the provinces, villagers and community leaders as well as students face intimidation when they demonstrate resistance to controversial projects, including potash mining in their backyards, to name one of many.
It is clear the country's seeming calm comes with civil rights being compromised.
On March 5, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, raised concern over a lack of freedom of expression in Thailand as he delivered his opening statement at the 28th Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.
Mr Zeid noted that military authorities continue to silence opposition under martial law, with more than 1,000 people summoned or detained since the May 22 coup. Many of them were brought before military courts.
He also said: "The legal prohibition on criticism of the monarchy has been increasingly deployed. At a time when a new constitution is being drafted, freedom of expression is needed to ensure genuine debate."
As the government has put a tight lid on civic groups and scholars with censorship and surveillance, contentious issues have emerged in the charter drafting process, be it over a non-elected prime minister, appointed senate, or the staunch refusal of Gen Prayut to take a two-year break from politics.
Janjira Poonsombatsiri, an academic from Thammasat University's political science faculty, has recently discussed what happens when people are silenced in a dictatorial society.
Under such circumstances, people resort to personal communication modes to express their opinions and channel dissent, including gossip, parody and mockery — which become other fighting tools to oppose the powers-that-be. Her explanation could well capture the current situation here.
It is believed that dozens of webpages and individuals who have made fun of the junta, and provided comparative studies and experiences from other societies, are now being targeted by the military-led online surveillance team for "provoking resistance and mocking the NCPO".
Activist Pipob Udomittipong, who has contributed to Prachatai and other media, has complained of online state surveillance. He was among a group of people in Chiang Mai who were summoned to a military camp one week after the May 22 coup.
Another academic, Kanda Naknoi from University of Connecticut Stamford, reportedly faced a similar situation due to her criticism of state-sponsored projects and the government's economic policies.
This should be a matter which concerns us; we never know for sure who, and how many people, are under surveillance and how much tax money is spent on the mission to make society — both online and offline — free of critical noise.
Instead of fearing criticism, the military should realise critics cannot be silenced and these people pose no threat.
It would do the country good for the military to find ways to open up and embrace different opinions to complete the political roadmap.
Achara Ashayagachat is Senior News Reporter, Bangkok Post.