With a background in student activism at Thammasat University, Rangsiman Rome has come under the public spotlight after becoming one of the leading figures railing against the powerful regime following the 2014 military coup.
On the night of May 22, 2014, when the coup took place, Mr Rangsiman and his friends agreed that something must be done to oppose the putsch.
He and about 50 others from Thammasat University's Tha Prachan Campus took to the streets the following day with the intention of marching to the Democracy Monument on Ratchadamnoen Avenue, but their effort was curtailed due to the threat of clashes with demonstrators from the defunct People's Democratic Reform Committee, who were already entrenched at the monument.
Since then Mr Rangsiman has led demonstrators to challenge the regime on various occasions.
The Democracy Restoration Group (DRG), of which the 26-year-old activist is the key member, has teamed up with various activist groups to form a pro-election network.
The network has the clear objective of demanding an election be held in November this year as originally scheduled by head of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha. It has also called for the military to end their support for the NCPO.
The latest gathering of the network took place on March 24, when members broke through security barriers to march from Thammasat University to the Royal Thai Army Headquarters on Ratchadamnoen Avenue. Mr Rangsiman said the rally was a success and had drawn the group's largest turnout yet.
He stressed the group will take to the streets again on May 5 as a prelude to more strenuous activities that will ensue, including a protest camp at an undisclosed location between May 19 and 22.
Mr Rangsiman, a postgraduate student at Thammasat University's Faculty of Law, said he had been engaged in various campaigns while studying for his bachelor's degree at the university, ranging from calling for freedom on the dress code to opposing violent hazing.
He said the turning point in his life as an activist came after the 2014 coup.
With so few people, including politicians, willing to stand up to the regime it was inevitable that he found himself coming under scrutiny, according to Mr Rangsiman.
He said he had faced seven charges in relation to his past political activities, but reiterated his movement is purely aimed at challenging the regime.
Mr Rangsiman believes that as long as he focuses solely on the current government and its performance, it will not be easy for the regime to find a legitimate reason to have him incarcerated.
"They are the worst ever group of coup-makers in the world," Mr Rangsiman said.
"I mean, they do not appear to be able to control anything. I do not think they can order the courts [to do what they want]."
Despite being confident he will not end up in a jail, the activist conceded that it remains a worry.
"I do not want to be imprisoned so I try to be optimistic," Mr Rangsiman said. "If I am pessimistic, how will I have the courage to fight?
"If I have to be jailed eventually, let it be."
He stressed he will put up with the current political circumstances.
"You have to realise that this is a broken country. It is not liveable," Mr Rangsiman said.
According to Mr Rangsiman, once he stood up to fight against the regime, he saw how people were inspired and pleased to have figures to pin their hopes on.
Mr Rangsiman said the people's support has given him encouragement to fight on. "I feel that if we don't do this, we will all go to hell. We cannot just flee from this country. We have to stay and fight," the activist said.
He stressed he has no time for the colour-coded politics of the red and yellow shirts. It is something he sees as a matter for the older generation.
He prefers to emphasise the value of the rule of law and sees those who stand against a just system as the problem.
"I moved past the issue of shirt colours a long time ago. Among my generation, only a small number of people care about shirt colours," Mr Rangsiman said.
According to the activist, his mother is a yellow-shirt supporter, while most people in his hometown of Phuket are also supportive of the yellow-shirt movement.
He said there is no need for him to choose any political colour as his stance is to fight for democracy and oppose the NCPO.
Referring to the network's activity on May 5, Mr Rangsiman brushed aside scepticism that he chose the date because it was the former coronation day of King Rama IX, saying this is simply a Saturday when people who are free from work can attend.
Another activity will be held on May 12, which will be followed by the four-day protest camp from May 19.
If the group's requests are met, the May 5 demonstration may not happen, he said, noting if that is not the case, the group will continue with their plans.
Mr Rangsiman said he hopes that the regime might change its mind in regard to the network's demands and, if it did, the path ahead would be much rosier.
However, if the regime continues to cling to power, it will almost certainly end up facing an "unfavourable" outcome, he said.
Speaking about fundraising for the network's activities, Mr Rangsiman said the group has no mass support base like political parties, which have the resources to persuade large groups of people to join, but its strength comes from its bravery.
The money spent on the activities is drawn from the donation boxes and the group members' bank accounts, he said, adding that at every rally, announcements are made regarding how the group's finances have been used.
"I can confirm that there is no financial support from politicians or any political groups for sure," said Mr Rangsiman, giving as an example the group's recent activity in front of MBK shopping mall which raised more than one million baht.
He conceded that he was surprised at the huge turnout for the rally at the army headquarters on March 24, but expressed satisfaction that the number of participants suggested the network was successful in promoting its events through online channels and the mainstream media.
"In the future, I want to be a lecturer. But what I want to see first is the NCPO in jail. When I'm asked whether I would like to be a politician, I have to say that I have no passion for it," Mr Rangsiman said.