Moral politicians?

Re: “Celebrating a non-existent constitution”, (Opinion, Dec 11).

Writing a new constitution to seek politicians who are righteous or virtuous is not only impossible but also absurd.

It is quite easy for military to grab power. All it has to do is to roll out the tanks and arrest or kill a few leaders to take over.

Everybody is well aware that getting elected in Thailand or elsewhere costs lots of money.

Political parties have to spend lots of time, money and resources on their candidates to get elected and come to power.

Also in a country where many monks behave like high-rollers, expecting politicians to have a high moral character and uphold the constitution is like asking the fox to guard the hen house.

The new constitution has been crafted with an aim to thwart any efforts by the old parties to come back to power.

To attract good people into governance requires the involvement of NGOs, civic society, unions, academia, women and minorities.

It also requires grassroots changes through high-quality liberal education at all levels.

Unfortunately, women in Thailand continue to be at the mercy of men.

Also, foreigners in Thailand seem to have no rights and their opinions do not count.

Instead of being treated as an asset they remain on the fringes, only to be seen as walking ATMs.

Constitutions are only as good as the people who draft them.

Mr Meechai Ruchupan has been part of many in the past.

As long as the new constitution provides an upper hand to the military, there will be no democracy or respite from future coups.

As usual, we will have a “same, same but different” version of Thai democracy.

KULDEEP NAGI