Referendum masks deeper question: Do Thais want democracy?

The letter seems to be somewhat confused, perhaps because the whole political situation is confused from top to bottom.
Thailand seems unable to jump off the same old merry-go-round and take a long hard look at itself. The 20th constitution in 84 years has arrived and it appears as likely to become the permanent paramount law of the land as its 19 predecessors. A charter is a complex document – a subject for debate, not just a simple referendum.
What type of governance do the people want? Is it democracy? If that is the case, it should be made clear at the outset and a referendum held posing the question: Do you want Thailand to become a genuine democracy, yes or no?
With a “yes”, the way forward would be clear to establish democracy by drafting a charter containing all the necessary principles. These are well established, but continually following the same unsuccessful procedure for 84 years cannot result in such success.
The underlying barrier to democracy here is that it is not understood at any level. Democracy cannot be established where votes can be bought for cash, where the vote alone is considered to be democracy and where there is no accountability and respect for the law.
The 12-year period of free education under Yingluck Shinawatra to which Burin Kantabura refers was influenced by the misguided red-shirt schools of indoctrination. The junta has to take a tough line because that destructive, totally undemocratic influence still exists. Were the junta to release its grip, the country would return to the “democracy” of vote-buying, partisan policing and guns and bombs on the streets.
A charter will not establish democracy unless democracy is understood by all. Yes, knowledge is power, but only the right sort of knowledge will allow democracy to flourish, and cultivating this will take time.
JC Wilcox