The government's heavy-handed crackdown on the 14 university students from the Dao Din group seems to have backfired as more and more people, ranging from other students to lecturers to the European Union and the United Nations, are giving them moral support and calling for their release.
Although the number of supporters who show up at Bangkok Special Prison each day as a symbolic protest against their arrest is small — less than 100 each day — the pressure is building on the government to do something to prevent the issue from getting out of control.
The arrest of the students on charges of illegal assembly by forming a public gathering of more than five people in defiance of the order of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) was a mistake. It was miscalculated and misjudged even though the intention was to nip the protest in the bud and discourage others from following their example.
In his weekly "Returning Happiness to the People" TV programme last Friday, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said he didn't want to blame the students for staging the protest and demanding restoration of democracy, saying they were acting on their consciences. He also indicated he was willing to help out if the students agreed to talk sense with the government.
Anek Laothammatas, the chairman of the National Reform Committee's reconciliation panel, suggested last week that talks be held between the arrested students and the government to put an end to the protests, which look to be blown out of all proportion.
Some observers suggested the current incident might come to resemble the "October 14" student-led uprising against the Thanom-Prapass-Narong military dictatorship in 1973.
I think this is a bit of an exaggeration as the political situation of then and now are quite different, although the student leaders back then, who included Thirayuth Boonmee, were arrested by the military regime and later set free.
One picture, which shows seven Dao Din students walking on a street somewhere, probably in Khon Kaen, with their hands placed on each other's shoulders looks familiar to a picture from more than 40 years ago showing Mr Thirayuth and other student leaders after their release. However, the Dao Din students' demonstration was not as inspiring. Whether the 14 arrested students acted on their own consciences and without hidden motives as suggested by the prime minister or not, the truth is they were well coached or well prepared. That explains why they refused to bail themselves out or allow bail to be arranged for them by their supporters, claiming that to do so would be tantamount to recognising the military court that they have rejected from the start.
Activists calling themselves the New Democracy Movement sit in a mock-up prison cell outside Thammasat University to call for the release of the 14 students detained for flouting the ban on political gatherings. Patipat Janthong
One of the students' demands is for their cases to be tried in the civilian court because they are civilians. The other demand, also made by their supporters, is for their unconditional release.
Among the latest supporters of the arrested Dao Din group are Panthongtae Shinawatra and red-shirt political activist Sombat Boonngarm-anong, taking advantage of social media to air their views.
Writing on his Facebook page, Mr Panthongtae suggested the NCPO members should have their attitudes adjusted instead of adjusting the attitudes of the people who oppose them. Yes, attitude adjustment. I couldn't agree more that the NCPO needs to be more broadminded and open about free expression by students, the media and the people.
The NCPO has always said it wants peace and order so it can focus on resolving the country's pressing and protracted problems and on its roadmap without worrying about political disturbances such as student protests.
But peace and order should not mean submission — that everybody must be good boys and good girls for the sake of the NCPO, and should not speak their minds out in the open in an irresponsible manner.
Veera Prateepchaikul is a former editor, Bangkok Post.