Activists collected 500 signatures from people in Rangoon this week. The letter speaks to four issues:

    * It calls on the government to grant amnesty to all political prisoners
    * to negotiate a cease-fire between the government and ethnic armed groups
    * to hold a political dialogue with ethnic armed groups
    * to welcome back exiled activists and refugees.
The signature campaign continued on Friday in Kha Yan, Thungwa, Thanlyin and Kyauktan townships, said Phyo Min Thein, one of the organizers.

Among those who signed the letter were pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi along with other National League for Democracy leaders, prominent senior politicians including Thakhin Thein Pe, film director Cho Tu Zaw, composer Ye Lwin and various high school students. Signatures  collected in 14 states and regions will be added to the letter.

The campaign will go on for 30 days, said organizers. Letters will be sent to the president once a week during the campaign. The letter also includes the names of members of various political parties and various independent candidates who stood in the election, according to Phyo Min Thein.

Myo Nyunt, a NLD youth-wing member, told Mizzima that members from NLD social networks were collecting signatures of young people. Young people were contacted and then arrangements were made to meet in a private house, where they gathered to sign the letter.

‘In the past, military dictators ruled the country. Now we have a parliamentary government. The signature campaign can test whether only the exterior or the essence of the system has been changed. The government’s response will show what they are’, Phyo Min Thein said.

Meanwhile, media observers noted that since April 11, state-run newspapers have been repeating that the second objective of the four political objectives of the state is ‘Strengthening of National Solidarity’ instead of the previous slogan, ‘National Reconciliation’.