OCTOBER NEWSLETTER 2019
HUMAN RIGHTS DISCUSSIONS
Human Rights Lectures Provided in Four Townships in Sagaing Division and One Township Shan State
In October, AAPP provided a total of (32) basic human rights lectures to students in Kyunhla Township, Kanbalu Township, Indaw Township and Banmauk Township in Sagaing Division and Kyaukme Township in Shan State. A total of 11,070 students attended the lectures and teachers joined.
- In Kyunhla Township, AAPP provided (6) lectures to students of (6) Basic Education High School. A total of 1,550 students attended the lectures and teachers joined.
- In Kanbalu Township, AAPP provided (3) lectures to students of (3) Basic Education High School and (1) lecture to students of the private schools. A total of 770 students attended the lectures and teachers joined.
- In Indaw Township, AAPP provided (8) lectures to students of (8) Basic Education High School. A total of 4,220 students attended the lectures and teachers joined.
- In Banmauk Township, AAPP provided (8) lectures to students of (8) Basic Education High School. A total of 2,390 students attended the lectures and teachers joined.
- In Kyaukme Township, AAPP provided (6) lectures to students of (6) Basic Education High School. A total of 2,140 students attended the lectures and teachers joined.
Figure 1 HR lecture in Banmauk
AAPP representatives, Ko Wanna Nwe and Ko Khin Maung Win gave an introduction of AAPP and its activities and purpose of the lecture. Then, U Aung Myo Kyaw, Ko Wanna Nwe, Ko Kyaw Oo, Ko Khin Maung Win, Ko Myo Tun, Ma Thanda Soe, Ma Mary Seng Khaung, Ma Lway Aye Maing, Ko Myo Thant Htut, Ko Aung Thet Tun, Ma Mya Nyein Chan and Ko Sai Tay Zar addressed the students. During our discussion, we showed a powerpoint presentation about the 30 Articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and discussed responsibility and accountability and there was a question and answer session with students. Then, we showed a short cartoon about discrimination, discipline the negative effect of drug abuse. At the end of each presentation, AAPP distributed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) pamphlets to raise awareness amongst the participants.
ADVOCACY AND LOBBYING
Representatives of Chemonic Visited AAPP
Figure 2 Meeting with Chemonic
On October 9, a group led by CHEMONIC’s DIANE GERAGHTY, JD (Director, Civitas Child Law Center) and Thomas F.Geraghty (Director Emeritus, Bluhm Legal Clinic) visited AAPP’s office in Rangoon and looked around AAPP’s Memory of the Past museum. Ko Zaw Moe, AAPP’s Documentation and Research Chief and Deputy of Foreign Affairs, gave them a museum tour. Then, U Bo Kyi, AAPP Joint Secretary, and Ko Zaw Moe, held a meeting with them and discussed AAPP’s current activities along with the political and human rights situation in Burma.
Discussion about Death Penalty in Burma
Figure 3 Attending death penalty discussion
On October 10, Burma human rights activists, former political prisoners, lawyers, artists, and journalists followed an invitation of EU Ambassador Kristian Schmidt to talk about the death penalty in Burma. Ko Zaw Moe, AAPP’s Documentation and Research Chief and Deputy of Foreign Affairs, attended the discussion.
Representatives of the Norwegian Embassy Visited AAPP
Figure 4 Meeting with Norwegian Embassy
On October 11, representatives from the Norwegian Embassy for Burma led by Ambassador. Tone Tinnes visited AAPP’s office in Rangoon and looked around AAPP’s Memory of the Past museum. AAPP officials gave them a museum tour and explained about the lives of political prisoners in prison. Then, U Bo Kyi, AAPP Joint Secretary, Ko Zaw Moe, AAPP’s Documentation and Research Chief and Deputy of Foreign Affairs, U Kyaw Soe Win, in charge of MHAP, Ma Than Than Htay, Supervisor of MHAP, held a meeting with them and discussed AAPP’s current activities along with the political and human rights situation in Burma.
Representative of US Embassy for Burma Visited AAPP
Figure 5 Meeting with US Embassy delegation
On October 17, Sylvie Young, Ph.D, Cultural Affairs Officer of the Public Affairs Department of US Embassy for Burma, visited AAPP’s office. U Bo Kyi, AAPP Joint Secretary, and U Kyaw Soe Win, in charge of MHAP, met with her and discussed AAPP’s current activities and political and human rights conditions in Burma. Then, AAPP officials gave her a museum tour.
Asia Justice And Rights (AJAR) Visited AAPP
Figure 6 Meeting with AJAR
On the 23rd of October, Galuh Wandita (Director), Indria Fernida (Regional Program Coordinator) and Polly from Asia Justice And Rights (AJAR) visited AAPP’s “Memory of the Past” exhibit, which was facilitated by officials from AAPP. After that, U Bo Kyi, AAPP Joint Secretary, Ko Zaw Moe, AAPP’s Documentation and Research Chief, Deputy of Foreign Affairs, and U Kyaw Soe Win, in charge of MHAP, met and discussed AAPP’s process at present and transitional period of Myanmar.
Delegation of the European Union to Myanmar Visited AAPP
Figure 7 Meeting with EU
On the 24th of October, Brigitte Junker (Political Officer) of Delegation of the European Union to Myanmar visited the AAPP office and AAPP’s Memory of the Past exhibit, which was facilitated by officials from AAPP. After that, U Bo Kyi, AAPP Joint Secretary, Ko Zaw Moe, AAPP’s Documentation and Research Chief, Deputy of Foreign Affairs, and U Kyaw Soe Win, in charge of MHAP, met and discussed AAPP’s current process, issues of political prisoners, the current situation of human rights and the political situation in Myanmar.
U.S. Department of State Met Bureau of East Asia and Pacific Affairs
On the 29th of October, Civil society leaders from different communities including AAPP Joint Secretary U BO Kyi shared their thoughts about how the United States can continue to support peace, democracy, and economic reforms in Myanmar with A/S Stilwell during October 27-30 visit to Myanmar.
GENERAL ACTIVITIES
Vimutti Women’s Organization (VWO) Visited AAPP
Figure 8 VWO visit AAPP
On October 6, former female political prisoners of Team Building and Community Organization workshop of the Vimutti Women’s Organization (VWO) visited AAPP’s office in Rangoon and toured around AAPP’s museum
Taiwanese Students Visited Mae Sot AAPP Office
On October 11, six students from Taiwan led by Tak Border Child Assistance Foundation had visits to Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, Mae Sot office. Ma Moe Pang Phyu from AAPP hosted and had discussions regarding activities of AAPP, Human Rights situation in Burma and current political prisoners’ issue and then the visitors looked around the museum which was created by AAPP.
Trainees from The Wings Institute Visited AAPP
Figure 9 Wings Institute visit AAPP
On the 24th of October, a total of 25 trainees from The Wings Institute led by Ma Phyo Phyo Aung visited the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) office and toured AAPP’s museum. Afterwards, U Ayung Myo Kyaw, AAPP Rangoon Office Chief, met with them to talk about the purpose of founding of AAPP, current and past activities. U Aye Myo Kyaw also answered the questions of the trainees.
MENTAL HEALTH ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (MHAP)
Training
Provided mental health awareness and self-care training to Team Building trainees of Vimutti Women Organization
On the 6th of October, 2019 Kyaw Soe Win, in charge of MHAP and, Than Than Htay, supervisor of MHPA gave mental health awareness and self-care training to trainees of Vimutti Women Organization. 25 female former political prisoners participated in the training.
Provided mental health awareness and self-care training to TWO
Figure 10 Mental health awareness and self-care training with TWO
On the 26th of October, MHAP trainer Htin Aung and trainer Khin Nyein Chan Soe gave mental health awareness and self-care training to 19 female participants of Ta’ ang Women Organization at Lashio Township, Northern Shan State.
Provided Stress Management and Self-Care training
Figure 11 Mental health awareness and self-care training with WIP
On the 28th and 29th of October, MHAP trainer Htin Aung and trainer Khin Nyein Chan Soe provided Stress Management and Self-Care training to 20 female trainees of Advanced Women Leadership Course Training that is organized by Women Initiative Platform (WIP) at Pyin Oo Lwin Township, Mandalay Region.
Counseling
In October, six female counselors visited to Women Vocational Training Center in Yangon on every Saturday and Sunday. 13 female clients were completed their counseling sessions and 21 female clients are receiving their treatment.
Two counselor visited to Women Development Center in Yangon on every Saturday in October, two female clients were completed their counseling sessions and two female clients are receiving counseling.
In October 2019, two supervisors and 11 counselors visited to Hgnet Aw Sann Youth Training Center (Juvenile prison) on every Monday and Friday. In October 2019, total 38 male clients are receiving their counseling sessions.
Two female counselor and three male counselors are providing counseling to two female trainees and 12 male trainees of Disable Adult Vocational Training Center in Yangon.
In October 2019, AAPP-MHAP Yangon team counselors are also providing CETA mental health counseling services for former political prisoners and their family members, other vulnerable population such as HIV patients, victims of human trafficking, victims of raped and poverty effected population in Yangon area.
AAPP-MHAP Mandalay team counselor is providing CETA mental health counseling services for former political prisoners and their family members, other vulnerable population in Mandalay area.
AAPP-MHAP Mae Sot team provided CETA mental health counseling services for migrant population, the victims of human trafficking, sex workers and victims of civil war in Myanmar. In October, eight females and one male are completed their counseling sessions and 20 females and 14 males are receiving their counseling sessions.
For more information:
Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP)
Tate Naing (Secretary)
+95(0) 9428 023 828
U Bo Kyi (Joint-Secrtary)
+95(0) 942 503 8840
Aung Myo Kyaw (Office In-Charge)
+95(0)942811 7348
Download link October Newsletter
