Authorities have vowed to punish those who ramp up smear campaigns or release distorted information in a bid to sow sedition through social media.
Maj Gen Piyapong Klinpan, spokesman of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), said it has been found over the past couple of weeks that some people made slanderous comments or gave false information to feed sedition and mislead the public either through social media or news outlets.
Such attempts were carried out in connection with the recent discovery of a weapons cache in Chachoengsao, he said.
Maj Gen Piyapong, who is also commander of the 11th Military Circle, said the NCPO's legal team found that efforts had been made to distort information about the discovery of weapons in a rice field in Bang Nam Prieo district to suggest it was staged by state officials.
According to the spokesman, the NCPO's legal representatives have lodged a police complaint against former Pheu Thai Party deputy spokeswoman Sunisa Lertpakawat who recently attacked the government in Facebook posts.
The complaint claims she violated the Computer Crime Act and committed sedition under Section 116 of the Criminal Code.
"The NCPO is dealing with the offender through the judicial process," said Maj Gen Piyapong, insisting the regime will build its case on solid evidence without any hint of prejudice or intimidation.
"The NCPO has never prohibited people from expressing their views but they must take responsibility for their opinions. If they violate the law, they must be dealt with," Maj Gen Piyapong said.
Regarding the Chachoengsao arms cache, five people have arrest warrants out for them, according to Maj Gen Piyapong. They are former 3rd Army deputy chief Lt Gen Manas Paorik, 68; former PM's Office minister and red-shirt leader Jakrapob Penkair, 50; Jakkarin Ruangsakwichit, 52; Chaiwat Polpho, 49, aka Peak Kalamae; and Somjet Kongwatana, 63.
Maj Gen Piyapong said the army has freed another suspect, Watana Sapwichien, 51, who turned himself in to the Army Air Defence Operation Centre 1 in Pathum Thani last Friday, as the investigation found he had no ties to the weapons. He was released on Thursday.
Three years ago, Watana was convicted and sentenced to 20 months in jail for his involvement in a seizure of arms.
Maj Gen Piyapong said Watana insisted he had nothing to do with the arms cache found in Chachoengsao and gave useful evidence.
Lt Gen Manas on Thursday turned himself to police and was later released on bail.
"Lt Gen Manas proclaimed his innocence by turning himself in to officers and the NCPO has never opposed his bail or detained him.
"This shows the NCPO has no discriminatory practices and does not bully others," the spokesman said.
Crime Suppression Division deputy commander Suwat Saengnum said yesterday another four accomplices have not yet contacted officers.
RGD-5 hand grenades and two editions of M79 grenades, retrieved from the paddy field, were linked to those discovered earlier in Bangkok, Ayutthaya and Nonthaburi, according to a police source.
These connections led police to seek arrest warrants for the five suspects, the source noted.
National police chief Chakthip Chaijinda said police are monitoring hardcore political groups and other perceived threats on social media.