The Thonglor department has always been that way, I don't think the military have affected their behaviour much, its just being reported more.
There were stories of piss tests being conducted by police behind cars around Asoke 10 years ago, and i thought they were hyperbole back then.
I travel through Asoke 5 days a week and have done so for 6 years, and before that lived on Soi 22 and have never, been stopped and searched once. I don't know anyone else who has been either.
It just seems like another case of internet panicking/doom mongering, which usually means a big increase in traffic for any website that specialises in the topic of BKK nightlife....