In a statement ahead of the 60th birthday of Myanmar's democracy icon, Aung San Suu Kyi, on Sunday, the State Department said the international community should "work together to end the repression of this brutal regime."

The United States and the European Union have imposed sanctions on Myanmar for several years but have failed to dislodge the military regime.

"The appropriate way to honor Aung San Suu Kyi is by championing the cause of all political prisoners, and by supporting the brave democrats of Burma, who struggle daily in the cause of freedom," department spokesman Sean McCormack said in a statement.

"Countries in the Community of Democracies should stand united in sustained support for a free Burma," he said.

The United States and many other Western nations continue to refer to the Southeast Asian nation by its previous name, Burma.

The military junta changed the name in 1990 after refusing to recognize Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party's landslide victory in elections the same year. She has been placed in prison and under house arrest for most of the last 15 years, the worlds only incarcerated Nobel Peace Prize recipient.

"Despite the Burmese junta's misguided efforts to silence her, Aung San Suu Kyi's message of freedom and democracy has only become stronger as she continues to stand up to Burma's oppressors," McCormack said.

The United States called upon the junta to release Aung San Suu Kyi and NLD leaders U Tin Oo and Hkun Htun Oo and all other political prisoners immediately and unconditionally, he said.

The military rulers, McCormack said, should also include Myanmar's opposition and ethnic minorities in a meaningful dialogue that leads to "genuine" national reconciliation and the establishment of democracy.

"This is a critical time for Burma. While the winds of reform and democracy are blowing throughout the world, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in Burma continue to deteriorate," he said.

"Burma is the only country where a Nobel Laureate is under house arrest for simply acting as a democratic leader."

Source: Yahoo News