Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, though admitting that certain articles of the 2007 constitution needed to be amended, stated that he was not in favour of amending any provision that might pave the way for granting amnesty retroactively for corrupt politicians1.

The Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs stated that twenty more Filipino sailors were being held as hostages by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden after the release of the 22 sailors from a Greek-owned merchant vessel MV Irene which was hijacked five months ago2.

Following a series of anti-Malaysia demonstrations in Jakarta recently over ownership of the Pendet dance, Malaysia and Indonesia agreed not to stake exclusive claims over shared cultural icons and to strive to resolve any cultural dispute through dialogue and negotiations in the future3.

Indonesia and the US entered into an agreement to promote bilateral cooperation in the health care sector. The agreement was signed by Indonesian Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari with her US counterpart Kathleen Sebelius in Washington, and includes bilateral scientific exchanges, public health clinics and training programmes, among other initiatives4.

• 1. “PM opposes granting amnesty,” Bangkok Post, September 17, 2009, at http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/154630/pm-opposes-change-for-gra...
• 2. “Somali Pirates still holding 20 Filipinos,” Bangkok Post, September 15, 2009, at http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/154483/somali-pirates-still-hold...
• 3. “RI, Malaysia agree to avoid cultural controversy,” The Jakarta Post, September 17, 2009, at http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/09/17/ri-malaysia-agree-avoid-cu...
• 4. “RI, US step up health cooperation,” The Jakarta Post, September 16, 2009, at http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/09/16/ri-us-step-health-cooperat...