AAPP’s June 2018 Newsletter
TRAININGS
Figure 1 Training in Arakan State
Human Rights, Documentation of Human Rights Violations, and Transitional Justice Training Held in Arakan State and Karenni 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 June. A 12-day training from June 5-16 was organized in Thandwe Town, Arakan State and a 12-day training from June 13-24 was held in Loikaw Township, Karreni State.
In Thandwe Town, 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 33 people (14 women and 19 men) participated in the training. Participants included Arakanese Youths, civilians as well as members of National League for Democracy (NLD), Farmers’ Union and AFFM and they are Arakanese backgrounds. Thandwe Town faces land confiscation.
In Loikaw Township, the training was administered by AAPP’s Human Rights Trainer Ma Zun Pan, and Human Rights Documentation and Transitional Justice Trainer Ko Tin Myo Htut. A total of 27 people (19 women and 8 men) participated in the training. Participants are civilians and members of Karenni New Generation Youths, Kayah State Student Union, Kaw Yaw National Literate and Culture, Kayah State Democratic Party, Karenni Women Organization, Karenni State Farmers’ Union, Karenni State Youth Union, Future Women Organization, Women for Women Foundation, Kayah Literate and Culture and Karenni National Party. They all are Kayah, K-yaw, Kaw-yaw,
Karenni, Karen and Pa-O backgrounds. Loikaw 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.
HUMAN RIGHTS LECTURES
Nine Lectures on Human Rights Provided to Students
In June , AAPP provided a total of nine lectures in nine basic education high schools in Yedashe Township, Bago Division . A total of over 3,470 students attended the lectures. Chairman of Education, Health, Social and Labour Affairs Committee of Bago Division, MP Dr. Kyaw Kyaw and U Myat Min from Yedashe Township NLD delivered the opening speech.
AAPP representatives, Ko Aung Myo Kyaw, Ko Kyaw Oo and Ko Than Htike Win gave an introduction of AAPP and its activities and purpose of lecture. Ko Wanna Nwe, Ko Kyaw Oo, Ko Than Htike Win and Ma Thida Aye addressed issues on human rights awareness, including the 30 Articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and responsibility and accountability. There was a question and answer period at the end of lectures. U Myat Min and Ko Moe Gyi from Yedashe Township NLD, Comedian Poe Lay and Chairman of Comedian Association of Bago Division Ko Arrow were involved in helping facilitate the event.
Figure 3 HR awareness lecture in Bago
At the end of each presentation, AAPP distributed Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) pamphlets to raise awareness amongst the participants.
ADVOCACY AND LOBBYING
Students from the Sky Age Free Mobile Education Group Visit AAPP’s Museum, ‘Memory of the Past’
On June 24, students from year seven of the Sky Age Free Mobile Group, founded by former political prisoner Ko Saw Thet Tun, visited AAPP’s museum, ‘Memory of the Past’. The Office Manager in Rangoon, Ko Aung Myo Kyaw, AAPP’s Mental Health Assistance Program (MHAP) Chief, Ko Kyaw Soe Win, and the Documentation and Research Team Manager/Foreign Affairs Deputy, Ko Zaw Moe, explained the exhibition as well as prison conditions in general
.
Figure 1 Sky Age Free Mobile students visit AAPP
Students from SYCB Visit AAPP’s Museum, ‘Memory of the Past’
On June 25, students from SYCB visited AAPP’s museum, ‘Memory of the Past’. Ko Lwin Moe Myint and Ko Khin Maung Soe from AAPP explained the exhibition.
Figure 4 SYCB students visit AAPP musuem
Mental Health Assistance Program
Every Saturday and Sunday in June, four female counselors went to the Women’s Vocational Training Center in Rangoon. In June, two clients completed their CETA counseling sessions and 12 clients continued their counseling sessions.
Every Saturday and Sunday in June, a female supervisor and two female counselors went to the Women’s Development Center in Rangoon to provide mental health counseling services. In June, one clients completed their counseling sessions and three clients continued their counseling sessions.
Every Monday in June, one Supervisor and five Counselors went to Hnget Aw Sann Youth Training Center (Juvenile Prison) to provide CETA mental health counseling services. In June, 12 clients continued to receive CETA mental health counseling services.
In June, AAPP-MHAP Mae Sot team provided CETA mental health counseling services for the migrant population, victims of human trafficking, and victims of the ongoing conflicts in Burma.
In June, AAPP-MHAP Yangon team counselors are also providing CETA mental health counseling services for former political prisoners and their family members, other vulnerable population in Yangon area.
A counselor from Magwe Region is providing CETA mental health counseling services for HIV patients in Nat Mauk and Taung Twin Gyi in Magwe Region.
A counselor from Bago Region is also providing CETA mental health counseling services for former political prisoners, their family members and other vulnerable populations in Bago area.
AAPP-MHAP Mandalay team counselors are also providing CETA mental health counseling services for former political prisoners and their family members, other vulnerable population in Mandalay area.
In June, eight female and two male clients completed their CETA counseling sessions and 18 female and 11 male clients continued their counseling sessions.
For More Information
Assistance Association for Political Prisoners
Tate Naing Secretary +95(0)9428 023828
Bo Kyi Joint Secretary +95(0) 942530 8840
Newsletter June1 Download link for Newsletter for June 2018
