PRASIT TANGPRASERT

Nakhon Ratchasima _ Election campaigning in Nakhon Ratchasima has turned nasty with the spreading of fake letters bearing the signature of chief poll superviser Paiboon Makkhawimarn and containing messages that could make voters believe certain candidates had been cheating.

Mr Paiboon said the fake letters, which were sent to executives of local administration organisations and widely distributed in Kham Sakae Saeng and Non Sung districts, which make up constituency 5, had led to inquiries into campaign fraud against canvassers of many candidates.

Mr Paiboon said some letters even had the false signatures of Parinya Nakchatree, one of the five election commissioners.

The provincial election panel was tracking down the forgers, who would face criminal action if arrested, he said.

Mr Paiboon said the battle in constituency 5 had heated up, with competing parties trading accusations of vote-buying, and the panel was looking into reports that a contender was about to spend another 90 million baht to make sure of a victory. Fraud complaints had kept flowing in but many were found to be groundless allegations.

Mr Paiboon, however, said a candidate contesting constituency 6 had called him and claimed he had incriminating evidence against canvassers of another party for handing out several thousand baht to voters and demanded a probe.

Democrat, Mahachon and Thai Rak Thai candidates are locked in a close race in this constituency.

Thai Rak Thai's Pitsinee Mungfak-klang, contesting constituency 5, meanwhile, denied she had sent letters to the election panel accusing some local leaders of being partial, saying the documents were fake and were designed to discredit her and fool her supporters.

Mrs Pitsinee is competing against Mahachon's Tassaneeya Rattanaset, Democrat Charan Saowakul and Chart Thai's Daorung Watcharinrat.