Thailand's March 24 post-coup election must be inclusive, fair and credible

THAILAND'S on-again, off-again general election is now firmly back on the cards. On Wednesday, a long-awaited royal decree signed by King Maha Vajiralongkorn was issued to authorise the poll. The Election Commission then officially declared the new election date of March 24 - a full month later than the previous announced Feb 24 date.

The election - assuming it does take place without any more hiccups - will be the first since a 2014 military coup overthrew the previous elected government under former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra. The landmark poll is a major step in Thailand's return to democracy, and yet many Thais remain sceptical if the process will be carried out in a fair and transparent manner, and if the losing sides will graciously accept the results.

What's clear is this latest postponement of the election - the fifth time in as many years - has to be the final one. When it was announced a few weeks ago that the Feb 24 date would be pushed back to avoid clashing with the preparations for the King's coronation on May 4-6, that decision sparked mass protests in several areas of the country.