No end in sight to Thai political crisis

THAILAND heads for the ballot box this Sunday for a controversial general election fraught with uncertainty. Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has defiantly rejected repeated calls by the opposition and the Election Commission (EC) to delay the snap election, arguing that doing so would be unconstitutional. This despite growing threats by anti-government protesters to disrupt the polls to prevent Ms Yingluck's ruling Puea Thai Party from being returned to power.

Bangkok - currently in a 60-day state of emergency - has been ravaged by street protests since last November which have seen at least 10 people killed and hundreds more injured in grenade attacks, shootings and clashes.

Thailand, South-east Asia's second largest economy, can ill afford more setbacks if it is to remain competitive in the region and beyond. The government estimates that tourist arrivals will fall by half to one million in January - a big blow for the industry ahead of the busy Chinese New Year holiday that begins tomorrow. The Tourism Council of Thailand predicts that revenue loss this month could reach up to 22.5 billion baht (S$870 million) as scores of countries, including the United States and China, have warned their citizens to avoid protest sites and reconsider non-essential travel to the country.