Signature campaign, rare protest in Myanmar

Pro-democracy activists in Myanmar are trying to turn the latest military crackdown to their advantage, hoping that a signature campaign calling for political dialogue will mobilise the public without exceeding what the junta can tolerate.

The signature campaign8212; a rare protest against the repressive regime8212; was launched on October 2 by an informal group of former student leaders who were key players in the 1988 movement that sought to end military rule in Myanmar. Just days earlier, five of the group8217;s members were detained for suspected subversion.

Their semi-public petition campaign8212; people are contacted and sign in privacy8212; has captured the imagination of many in Yangon.

So far, the campaign has drawn only relatively mild rebukes from the military government.