Hundreds of anti-military leaflets were strewn in front of the army's headquarters in Bangkok at 4.20am on Friday.
Anti-coup leaflets scattered in front of army headquarters on Aug 15, 2014. (Photo by Wassana Nanuam)
The 5-by-6-inch leaflets contained several versions of text in bold type condemning and mocking the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) and its chief, Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha, as well as the military and police.
The word "Serithai", meaning Free Thailand, in small type was on the bottom right corner of every leaflet.
They were scattered on Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue — from the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy intersection to the Makkawan Rangsan Bridge.
The road was closed to traffic for 20 minutes while Bangkok Metropolitan Administration workers cleaned it up.
Footage from closed circuit cameras in the area found the leaflets were distributed from a pink taxi and a motorcycle coming from the Makkawan bridge and that left by the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy intersection and Rama VIII Bridge.
The content of the leaflets was similar to those distributed in Nonthaburi earlier.
Col Winthai Suwaree, a deputy NCPO spokesman, believes there will be no copycat since officers are keeping a close watch on the situation and most people understand the NCPO.
Col Sirichan Ngathong of the NCPO's spokesman team said distributing fliers attacking other people was not an acceptable method of expressing dissent and should be avoided.
The NCPO has channels for people to express opinions such as the 1111 hotline or by mail.
"Let's use the appropriate channels to disagree. We've had enough social unrest because of these differences in opinions," she said.
Since the May 22 coup, the junta has outlawed all protests and made it clear it would not tolerate criticism, citing the need to maintain peace and order during the transition period.
On Thursday, a military court made its first anti-coup protest ruling.
The Chiang Rai military province court sentenced Saravut Kulomturapoj, a red shirt supporter, to a three-month jail term, suspended for one year, and a fine of 5,000 baht for violating the No. 7/2557 NCPO order banning all protests and Sections 8 and 11 of the 1914 Martial Law Act.
Saravut and seven of his friends on May 25 held up placards in a number of areas in the province, calling for the release of seven protesters who had met at a McDonald’s restaurant for anti-coup activities and were arrested earlier on that day.
Their placards read: "Holding placards is not a crime", "Release sons of King Ramkhamhaeng [Ramkhamhaeng University students]" and others showing their disagreement with the coup.
Since Saravut confessed, the sentence was halved.
A military court verdict cannot be appealed.
On July 3, the Pathumwan Municipal Court also handed down a suspended jail sentence on a coup protester.