KHON KAEN: The People Go Network has pledged to expand its civil rights campaign and gear up for other activities similar to the "We Walk" march which wrapped up on Friday.
Lertsak Kamkongsak, one of the eight core members of the network, yesterday said although the march ended on Friday, the group would encourage other civic groups to join them.
Also, the network insisted it would not dissolve, as the recent march was only one of its first steps towards achieving its democratic demands.
Mr Lertsak said further activities would harness activist groups to demonstrate their freedom of expression in line with the constitution.
The dates and other details for the network's next events have not been decided.
A march could be staged along major roads in Bangkok such as Phahon Yothin, Phetkasem and Ratchadamnoen.
Any new marches would continue to hold firm to the concept of preserving democracy and the charter, which is the supreme law of the country, Mr Lertsak said. However, the pattern of activities would be adjusted so the network could access wider groups of people.
He admitted it had been difficult to complete the latest walk, as the network had allegedly been pressured by authorities throughout the march.
"Our activity got off to a fine beginning," Mr Lertsak said of the 450km march from Pathum Thani to Khon Kaen, which began on Jan 20 and finished on Friday.
"Our strength has not let up over the past month. This proved that we can do it and do it well [despite being] under the military government," he said.
Last month, Mr Lertsak and seven other core leaders of the People Go Network were charged with violating the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) ban on political gatherings of five or more people.
Legal action was brought against them after the launch of "We Walk", since it was announced as a display of public discontentment with the government.
The seven include Anusorn Unno, a core leader of the Thai Academic Network for Civil Rights and also dean of Thammasat University's Faculty of Sociology and Anthropology; Nimit Tienudom, president of the Aids Access Foundation; and Somchai Krajangsaeng, health security activist.
The remainder are Sangsiri Trimakka, a coordinator of the People's Health Systems Movement; Nuchnarot Taenthong and Jamnong Noopan, activists of the Four Regions Slum Network; and Ubon Yoowa, a food security advocate.
During the rally, marchers were also divied into several groups. Each group comprised of four people -- one fewer than the five-person legal maximum -- and took turns to march along the route to Khon Kaen.
Officials said the event breached the NCPO's ban on public gathering although the network had earlier reported the activities to local authorities in line with the law.
Under growing pressure, the network petitioned the Administrative Court, which later issued an injunction allowing the marchers to carry on unhindered.
