Putrajaya (Malaysia), June 24: Calling the issue a "dilemma" for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Malaysia's leader today repeated his call for Myanmar's military government to immediately release detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. "I hope that the Myanmar regime will take into account the views expressed by other countries, especially Asean in this matter, because this has placed Asean in a dilemma," Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said at a news conference.
He, however, did not elaborate any further. Asean last week told Myanmar's junta to free Suu Kyi – an unprecedented demand for the association, which has a core policy of not interfering in its 10 member nations' internal affairs. Similar calls have come from the United Nations, the United States and other countries. Suu Kyi was taken into what the junta calls protective custody on May 30 following violent clashes in northern Myanmar. The government said four people were killed, but unconfirmed reports from dissidents put the number at 70. Bureau Report