AAPP’s May 2018 Newsletter

Figure 1 Human Rights Training in Lashio Township, Northern Shan State

TRAININGS

Human Rights, Documentation of Human Rights Violations, and Transitional Justice Training Held in Northern Shan State

As a part of the series of regular Human Rights, Documentation of Human Rights Violations, and Transitional Justice Training, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) (AAPP) held two long trainings in the month of May. A 11-day training from May 7-17 was organized in Kutkai Township, Northern Shan State and a 12-day training from May 14-25 was held in Lashio Township, Northern Shan State.

In Kutkai Township, the Training was administered by AAPP’s Human Rights Trainer, Ko Nay Wunn, and Human Rights Documentation, and Transitional Justice Trainer, Ko Tin Myo Htut. A total of 26 people (14 women and 12 men) participated in the training. Participants included people and youths of Shan, Kachin, Ta’ang, Lisu and Burmese backgrounds, as well as, women from Lisu, Kutkai and Panku Women Networks, members of the Ta’ang Party, members of Civil Society Organizations, students and civilians. Kutkai Township faces land confiscation and arbitrary detention.

In Lashio Township, the training was administered by AAPP’s Human Rights Trainer Ko Saw Than Hlaing, and Human Rights Documentation and Transitional Justice Trainer Ko Sai Myint Thu. A total of 39 Lahu people (10 women and 29 men) participated in the training. Participants are all members of the Lahu National Development Party. Lashio Township faces land confiscation and forced labour.

These training served as capacity building measures, aiming to encourage and inform the participants about democratic principles and help them protect their human rights.

ADVOCACY AND LOBBYING

H.E. Jaroslav Doleček, visited and looked around AAPP’s museum.

                                                         Ko Tate Naing and Ko Bo Kyi with his Excellency Jaroslav Doleček Czech Ambassador

Ambassador and Plenipotentiary of the Czech Republic to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, H.E. Jaroslav Doleček, visited and looked around AAPP’s museum, Memory of the Past, on 24 May, 2018. AAPP representatives, Secretary Ko Tate Naing and Joint Secretary Ko Bo Kyi, welcomed him, showed him around the museum and explained the exhibits.

Project 2049 visited AAPP’s office and AAPP’s museum.

                                                      Members of Project 2049 visiting AAPPs office in Rangoon

On May 24, Rachael Burton and Cherry Zahau from Project 2049, an American think tank, visited AAPP’s office and looked around AAPP’s museum, Memory of the Past. They discussed AAPP activities related to human rights and law reform with AAPP Secretary Ko Tate Naing, Joint Secretary Ko Bo Kyi, Rangoon Officer In-Charge Ko Aung Myo Kyaw, Head of MHAP Ko Kyaw Soe Win and Officer In-charge of the Documentation and Research Team/Deputy Foreign Affairs, Ko Zaw Moe.

WIP Visited AAPP’s Museum, Memory of the Past

                                                    Members of the Women’s Initiative Platform visiting AAPP’s Rangoon office

On May 16, 17 students led by  Ma Lway Nwe Naung from Women’s Initiative Platform (WIP) visited and looked around AAPP’s museum, Memory of the Past.  Rangoon Office In-charge Ko Aung Myo Kyaw and Officer In-charge of the Documentation and Research Team/Deputy Foreign Affairs, Ko Zaw Moe explained they exhibition. AAPP Secretary Ko Tate Naing also explained Burma’s political history, conditions for political prisoners, how AAPP was founded and AAPP’s activities.  AAPP’s Mental Health Assistance Program (MHAP) Chief Ko Kyaw Soe Win also explained about MHAP. Then Ko Tate Naing, Ko Aung Myo Kyaw, Ko Kyaw Soe Win and Ko Zaw Moe answered student’s questions.

Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor visited AAPP’s office and museum

   Members of DRL meeting with AAPP in Rangoon

On 29 May 2018, Foreign Affairs Officer, Henrietta S.Levin led the group of Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) visited and looked around AAPP’s museum, Memory of The Past. AAPP’s Mental Health Assistance Program (MHAP) Chief, Ko Kyaw Soe Win and Research Team/Deputy Foreign Affairs, Ko Zaw Moe showed around the museum and explained the condition of how former political prisoners went through. After that, they discussed openly with AAPP’s Secretary, Ko Tate Naing and Joint-Secretary, Ko Bo Kyi.

Local and International Visited AAPP’s Museum, Memory of The Past

On May 4, a group led by Ko Min Thwe Thit and Ma Yadanar Su Po Khaing from Owai Library and Free Training School and one student from Copenhagen University on May 11, visited AAPP’s museum, Memory of the Past. AAPP’s staff explained the exhibits and about AAPP, and showed them around the museum.

Mental Health Assistance Program

Every Saturday and Sunday in May, four female counselors went to the Women’s Vocational Training Center in Rangoon. In May, two clients completed their CETA counseling sessions and 11 clients continued their counseling sessions.

Every Saturday and Sunday in May, a female supervisor and two female counselors went to the Women’s Development Center in Rangoon to provide mental health counseling services. In May, two clients completed their counseling sessions and three clients continued their counseling sessions.

Every Monday in May, one Supervisor and five Counselors went to Hnget Aw Sann Youth Training Center (Juvenile Prison) to provide CETA mental health counseling services. In May, 11 clients completed their counseling sessions and 12 clients continued to receive CETA mental health counseling services.

In May, AAPP-MHAP provided counselling to 102 clients their counseling sessions in Yangon, Mandalay, Magway, Bago and Mae Sot, Thailand. 41 of those clients completed

AAPP-MHAP Chief Clinical Supervisor joined the Mental Health and Psycho Social Support working group (MHPSS –WG) workshop at Seinn Lann So Pyay garden in Yangon, on the 15 of May, 2018.

AAPP-MHAP Chief Clinical Supervisor and two CETA trainers and joined Asia Pacific Research for Mental Health Services (ASPiRE-MHS) workshop at Community Partners International (CPI) office in Yangon on the 21 and 22 of May, 2018.

Download link for Newsletter May newsletter 

For More Information

Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP)
Tate Naing (Secretary)  +66 (0) 812 878 751
Bo Kyi (Joint Secretary)        +66   (0)81 962 8713