International

Thailand Votes on New Constitution

By Liane Hansen, Michael Sullivan

Published August 19, 2007 at 5:00 AM PDT

This story was published more than 17 years ago.

The people of Thailand went to the polls Sunday to vote on a new constitution. It would replace the one tossed out by the military-led government that took power in a bloodless coup last year.

Final results of the referendum are expected Monday. If approved, the constitution will pave the way for a general election by the end of the year. Supporters of the charter argue it would return democracy to Thailand. But critics, including backers of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinowatra, aren't so sure.

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Liane Hansen

Liane Hansen has been the host of NPR's award-winning Weekend Edition Sunday for 20 years. She brings to her position an extensive background in broadcast journalism, including work as a radio producer, reporter, and on-air host at both the local and national level. The program has covered such breaking news stories as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the capture of Saddam Hussein, the deaths of Princess Diana and John F. Kennedy, Jr., and the Columbia shuttle tragedy. In 2004, Liane was granted an exclusive interview with former weapons inspector David Kay prior to his report on the search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. The show also won the James Beard award for best radio program on food for a report on SPAM.

Michael Sullivan

Michael Sullivan is NPR's Senior Asia Correspondent. He moved to Hanoi to open NPR's Southeast Asia Bureau in 2003. Before that, he spent six years as NPR's South Asia correspondent based in but seldom seen in New Delhi.