Khamta Kaenboonjan, the group's leader, said yesterday the convoy and other groups expected to arrive in Pathum Thani neighbouring Bangkok on Thursday and spend the night there.

Convoys from around the country started their journey at the beginning of March and plan to arrive in Bangkok on Friday.

Khamta said the caravan would move from Pathum Thani to Government House in the capital on Friday. He said the group would urge Thaksin to solve rural problems such as drought.

"Our mission in Bangkok will finish at the Democracy Monument. Then we will go home," he said.

Khamta said the caravan would not go to Sanam Luang where the anti-Thaksin rally organised by the People's Alliance for Democracy is taking place.

"We don't want to get involved in any confrontation. Also we are worried that we may worsen traffic in Bangkok, so we'll only be in the city for one day."

The convoy will then walk to the Democracy Monument "where members will pray for national harmony".

Atthasit Singhalor, another leader of the pro-Thaksin group, dismissed an allegation that his group had been paid. "Who would want to pay money to a group of 8,000 people? It would cost as much as Bt1 million," he said.

There was a rumour that every member of the caravan was hired at Bt200 a day to take part in the rally.

He said every member of his group joined because of their consciences.

Atthasit expected about 200,000 people to offer Thaksin moral support on Friday at Government House.

Other Thaksin supporters yesterday announced they would end their week-long rally at Mo Chit bus station.

Since the network of taxi drivers began their campaign in support of the prime minister on March 7, around 10,000 people have attended each day.

However, the network decided to end its protest after footage of His Majesty the King's mediation during the bloody political crisis of May 1992 was broadcast on Sunday night.

They called on the anti-Thaksin rally to stop its protests and avoid conflict.

Sucheera Pinijparakarn,

Sumalee Bhotipayak

The Nation