BOOK LAUNCH: 11th Anniversary of AAPP (2011)
New book launched on the 11th Anniversary of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma)
Information release
23 March 2011
To mark the 11th anniversary of its founding, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma), known as AAPP, is launching a new book, titled, A Country of Heroes in the Dark. A Country of Heroes in the Dark, written by Hnin Pan Ein, is a compilation of articles and stories about the lives of current political prisoners.
Author Hnin Pan Ein, the wife of a former political prisoner, provides poignant insights into the political prisoner situation in Burma and the impact of imprisonment on families. The articles were originally aired by Radio Free Asia as a weekly radio program and are now being published as a book. While the stories in this book are unique, they are also representative of the situation for thousands of former and current political prisoners in Burma.
Since AAPP’s establishment, 11 years ago on 23 March 2000, the human rights situation in Burma has not improved. More than 2000 political prisoners remain behind bars and AAPP continues to document grave human rights violations, including torture inside Burma’s prisons and interrogation centers. From the testimony and evidence documented by AAPP, it is evident that torture committed against political prisoners is systematic and widespread.
“With more than 2076 people languishing behind bars for their political beliefs, and no sign that the military regime plans to release them, AAPP will continue to shine a much needed spotlight on Burma’s unsung heroes – its political prisoners and ensure they will never be forgotten”, Tate Naing Secretary of AAPP says.
Since its founding AAPP has released a number of stories and books including Spirit for Survival, Memoirs without Record of a Youth, Ten Years On, Women Political Prisoners in Burma, The Noise of the Hanging Gallows, The Darkness We See: Torture in Burma’s Interrogation Centers and Prisons, A Living Hell: is that all you’ve got?!
Over the past 11 years, AAPP has repeatedly called for the release of all political prisoners in Burma. In publishing, ‘The Country of Heroes in the Dark’, AAPP hopes to reinvigorate the call to release all political prisoners. The international community must unite in a concerted effort to campaign for the release of all political prisoners. Their release must be unconditional and it must happen now.
Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma)
For more information:
Tate Naing (Secretary): +66 (0) 81 287 8751
Bo Kyi (Joint Secretary): +66 (0) 81 962 8713
