Regime to press on with legal action against 8

Eight wanted activists are among about 150 civil rights marchers currently on a 450-kilometre walk from Bangkok to Khon Kaen, which the ruling junta violates laws against groups of more than four people.

The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) said Tuesday it will still take legal action against eight activists involved in a civic march that violated its ban on political gatherings, despite activists' calls to drop the case.

The NCPO rejected a petition by Thammasat University scholars even though the 450-kilometre march was allowed to continue by an Administrative Court injunction.

The march was organised in protest against "inadequate" government measures to deal with a variety of social issues, rallygoers said.

Related: 7 protesters face sedition charges

The eight participants must report to the authorities or arrest warrants will be issued for them, NCPO spokesman Piyapong Klinpan warned.

The People Go Network, which organised the march, must explain how the event differed from other social campaigns, he said.

The mobile rally kicked off on Jan 20 with 150 people led by Anusorn Unno, dean of the university's Faculty of Sociology and Anthropology.

The NCPO considers it an example of illegal assembly as it violated a years-long ban on gatherings of five or more people for political purposes.

The government justified the ban to minimise the risk of conflict, social division, political turbulence and violence.

The eight activists, including Mr Anusorn and Nimit Tienudom, president of the Aids Access Foundation, have both been summoned to acknowledge the charges.

According to the network, all eight will meet Klong Luang police today.

The 26 scholars called on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, the NCPO chief, to let the matter slide after the Administrative Court granted an injunction on Friday prohibiting police from forcibly stopping the march.

Officers were instead ordered to ensure the safety of participants, who planned to walk from the university's Rangsit Campus in Pathum Thani to Khon Kaen in the northeast.

The network said it hopes the "We Walk" march encourages people to share their views on four issues: food security, protecting national resources, community rights, and freedom under the constitution.

They said the government should take this opportunity to review the ban and recognise that it restricts people's rights and liberties.

As it was enacted using the the powerful Section 44 of the interim charter, they said it should be revoked because the 2017 charter has now taken effect.

However, Maj Gen Piyapong argued the charter allows for the continued use of Section 44 for "internal security".

He said while it is healthy for the public to express their views on issues of such magnitude, events like this must be organised with extreme care given how fragile and politically divided Thai society is.

"Some expressions [of views] can lead to conflict and even hinder the roadmap" to the general election, he said.

The government has no problem with people airing their views provided it is done within the limits of the law, he added.

Gen Prayut said Tuesday the government will adhere to the court ruling but those who joined the march should tread carefully from now on.

"They have to think of those who oppose [their march] and who see through their various motivations," he said.

Undeterred by Tuesday's growing drama, 13 marchers arrived in Nakhon Ratchasima after completing another 10km of their campaign.

The group said it "felt secure" due to the police presence.