Laura Bush calls for Myanmar pressure

WASHINGTON, June 28 (UPI) -- Former U.S. first lady Laura Bush says the international community must unite to pressure Myanmar to put an end to human rights abuses.

Writing Sunday in an opinions piece for The Washington Post, Bush said the courage of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi in standing up to country's regime despite years of house arrest is a "continued example of civil courage."

"Leaders from around the world -- including the United States -- have called forcefully for the junta to release Aung San Suu Kyi and the 2,100 other political prisoners it is holding," she wrote, "but the world must do more than express concern."

The former first lady said the United Nations Security Council should refer leaders of Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, to the International Criminal Court for war crimes as it did Sudan for the alleged genocide in Darfur.

"With U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon planning to visit Burma this summer, it is crucial that he press the regime to take immediate steps to end human rights abuses, particularly in ethnic minority areas," Bush wrote. "There have been 38 U.N. resolutions condemning these abuses, yet the horrors continue unabated."