Thailand's unresolved political stalemate has economic costs

ABOUT 300 protesters spent their Sunday marking the second anniversary of Thailand's last coup in what was one of the largest shows of dissent since the military overthrew the elected government in May 2014 under former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Thailand, the second-largest economy in South-east Asia, has been relatively stable since Prayut Chan-o-cha, the ex-army chief, took power. The junta has largely restored order, but at the cost of suspending many civil liberties, including freedom of expression. After Mr Prayut took office, the military banned political protest and stepped up prosecutions under sedition and royal defamation laws.

For now, all eyes are on Mr Prayut and when he will finally make good on his promise to hold fresh elections. He has made several previous pledges but these deadlines have long passed - the latest plan is to send the country to the polls in the second half of 2017, but even that is a big question mark.