Believe how the junta acts, not what it says

This paid ad says (on p1) that a “people’s state” is founded on democratisation. It says that in such a state, horizontal power will be reinforced, and vertical power reduced. It states further that active citizens are the core to “genuine democracy.” This is music to my ears – but do Prayut’s acts support his sweet words?
In fact, horizontal power has been severely hobbled, for we are forbidden from gathering to discuss issues of the day, eg, protesting against alleged corruption at Rajabhakti Park. Even a kid who, on Children’s Day and during Q&A time, asked Prayut that he be taught the rationale for each of the 12 Values was frog-marched to the nearest cop station for an “attitude adjustment”.
Vertical power has been strengthened, not reduced, eg, in education, is there a public school that dares not teach Prayut’s 12 Values? The junta uses Section 44 to override EIAs for mega-projects, like coal-fired power plants, riding roughshod over local protests.
The junta’s actions show that it wants a passive citizenry, one that is compliant and doesn’t question – an active citizenry is anathema to it.
Or, are we going to have a dictatorship until elections, and then overnight, we’ll have a “genuine democracy”? Sorry, it doesn’t work that way, for “As the means, so the end” (Mohandas Gandhi).
Believe how the junta acts, not what it says.
Burin Kantabutra