The constitution alone cannot heal political divisions, according to constitutional experts.
Norachit Sinhaseni, Constitution Drafting Committee spokesman, said in a video broadcast at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand on Wednesday that Thailand needs to restore peace and stability.
"The 'terms of reference' set by the National Council for Peace and Order in the charter should reflect the uniqueness of Thai political traditions and adhere to international standards, which it does," said Mr Norachit, referring to the Universal Human Rights Declaration and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights [ICCPR]. "Whether it [the draft charter] will be workable and bring in a clean government depends on those who make use of it," he said.
Suchit Bunbongkarn, a former Constitutional Court judge and a member of the previous constitution drafting committee led by Bowornsak Uwanno, said the current draft charter contained the same core elements -- human rights, a guarantee of basic education and anti-corruption mechanisms.
"Each charter addresses a certain illness but we can't resolve the problems of the country through this alone." He said political polarisation will remain, even after elections, but the conflicts may be less intense than before the coup.
Mr Suchit said the military's role would remain crucial in brokering and propping up the next government. "The main concepts of the constitution such as those on human rights will not be enough to give it legitimacy; it's the performance of the next government that counts."
David Strekfuss, a Khon Kaen-based political scientist, said the draft constitution was rigid in substance, making amendments to it difficult.
Henning Glaser, director of Thammasat University's German-Southeast Asian Centre of Excellence for Public Policy and Good Governance, said the draft constitution appeared bent on weakening politicians, forging reconciliation, upholding morality and increasing bureaucratic power.
"A weak and fragmented parliament will usher in a weak government," said Mr Glaser, predicting the NCPO would remain influential for another decade.
The International Federation for Human Rights and the Union for Civil Liberty has made similar predictions. In its report entitled, "Roadblock to democracy -- Military repression and Thailand's draft constitution", it predicts renewed political instability in the country due to a weak elected government.
Charles Santiago, a member of the Malaysian parliament and chairman of Asean Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR), said it is not a referendum in any genuine sense of a democratic process, but instead a "forced vote" following a campaign in which informed debate had been thwarted.
Walden Bello, a former Filipino congressman and APHR board member, said the junta failed to heed requests for a fair and open debate and ignored international standards for the referendum.