The group, comprising villagers from northern and northeastern provinces, has been camped at the park in support of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, while the PAD has held a massive rally outside Government House and plans others in several parts of the capital on Sunday.

The caravan's activities on Saturday included a beauty pageant, an essay contest on democracy and election, a speech contest and a boxing match, said its deputy leader Attharit Singhalor.

The boxing was the most popular event because it had a Sondhi Limthongkul lookalike fighting Khamta, while a Chamlong Srimuang lookalike fought Attharit.

In the evening, the Caravan of the Poor held a candlelighting ceremony, similar to a recent PAD activity, in order to "bring back the country's democracy".

Meanwhile, the group has assigned some of its members to guard the demonstration area against any illintentioned people bent on creating chaos and confusion.

The move was taken after a suspicious box was found near the rally stage on Saturday at about noon. However, police later announced that it contained nothing more than packages of carbon paper.

Attharit also said the group would have a different member shave his head each day. This is a followup to 72 members on Friday shaving their heads to protest Thammasat University rector Surapol Nitikraipoj's call for a new prime minister appointed by His Majesty the King.

The group will hold a press conference on Friday at noon on the PAD's request that a new premier be appointed by His Majesty under Article 7 of the Constitution.

Attharit said some protesters would be going home to cast advance votes ahead of next Sunday's general election, so that they could return to the rally site when fellow protesters depart for the April 2 polling.

The Nation