While the promised national reconciliation remains distant, the military regime did see two former political enemies find common ground last week. The problem is that former prime ministers Abhisit Vejjajiva and Thaksin Shinawatra only agree on opposition to the regime's current policies. Both claim Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and his National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) are plotting to extend their power past next year.
Gen Prayut must clear up this perception. The latest version of Gen Prayut's political roadmap calls for elections in December, 2017. That means the country is just halfway through rule by the coup-makers. The biggest symbol of discontent, and the reason Thaksin and Mr Abhisit sounded so similar last week, is the second attempt to write and pass a new constitution. Critics, including the two ex-premiers, charge the NCPO is trying to incorporate language that would make the constitution undemocratic.
Under discussion is the military's demand that the members of the post-2017 Senate be appointed. Gen Prayut has specifically endorsed this. But it is not the only suspect clause being inserted into, or withheld from, the charter draft. In addition to banning a vote on future senators, the draft is weak on traditional freedoms including speech and the press, and emasculates the welcome trend of recent years to devolve power to communities.
The person behind the creeping military campaign to control post-election Thailand is believed to be Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon. He is considered the leader of the so-called "Eastern Tigers" military clique currently in power.
Gen Prawit is the person applying pressure on Constitution Drafting Committee chairman Meechai Ruchupan to include a non-elected Senate for the post-2017 period. He has proclaimed that members of the NCPO are qualified to serve as senators. There is no sense to this idea as it can only typify the problems facing democracy. Gen Prawit should not decide this question -- it is for the voters, and them alone -- to judge who can sit in parliament.
Mr Meechai is, for now, keeping his options open. After Gen Prawit's statements on an appointed Senate, he skipped last week's meeting of the so-called "five rivers" group. Four of these are the cabinet, the NCPO, the National Legislative Assembly and the National Reform Steering Assembly.
The fifth, and currently key, group is Mr Meechai's CDC. Mr Meechai's absence from last Monday's meeting could indicate the emergence of a conflict pitting the CDC against other key regime-controlled groups. It is far from clear whether Mr Meechai is willing to risk an open political battle to try to get Senate elections into the draft constitution. It is equally uncertain whether generals Prayut and Prawit will risk going up against Mr Meechai and public opinion.
The country does not need another political skirmish between Gen Prayut's regime and the people. But this will be inevitable in the face of policies and actions delivered by a regime that is repeatedly showing distrust of its own people.
The junta has rejected public input and debate on the constitution. Its repeated crackdowns and attitude-adjustment sessions prevent free speech. They inhibit political moderates who can contribute greatly to a peaceful return to the principles of democracy. Gen Prayut is at a point where he needs to reach out to the public and make a full explanation of his regime's post-2017 goals.