Special report: Crisis in Thailand

    BANGKOK, April 11 (Xinhua) -- The Central Administrative Court will decide on Wednesday whether to suspend the controversial by-election in Thailand before the start of trial on its legitimacy.

    After the Election Commission (EC) allowed new candidates to compete in by-elections in 38 constituencies, the Democrat party has petitioned to the court to cancel the second round of voting, scheduled for April 23, on the grounds that it is illegal.

    They said the EC was authorized to hold by-elections only for the candidates who fell short of winning at least 20 percent of popular votes in their constituencies.

    The party was considering lodging a complaint against the EC for negligence of duty as it failed to look into alleged connections between Thai Rak Thai (TRT) and small parties, Democrat Sathit Wongnongtoey was quoted by Bangkok Post as saying Tuesday.

    According to some critics, the small parties that field candidates in the elections were helping with the TRT's bidding to avoid one-horse race and the 20 percent rule.

    Meanwhile, the EC decided to put polling booths back in their traditional position to face election staff for the Senate election on April 19 and advance voting for Senate on Thursday and Friday.

    But the decision was lashed by law academics as a move to please voters and incompetence to organize an election in a way that could protect the freedom and secrecy of voters as required by law. Enditem