AAPP’s Newsletter for August 2018
TRAININGS
Human Rights, Documentation of Human Rights Violations, and Transitional Justice Training Held in Pyay Township and Bago Township
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 August. A 12-day training from August 3-14 was organized in Pyay Township, Bago Division and a 12-day training from August 18-29 was held in Bago Township, Bago Division.
In Pyay 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 27 people (16 women and 11 men) participated in the training. Participants included members of National League for Democracy (NLD), Farmers’ Group, Pyay Youth Network, Ushitbin Youth Network, Women Arrman Welfare and students, former political prisoners and civilians and they are Burmese, Kachin-Burmese and Hindu backgrounds. Pyay Township faces land confiscation, human trafficking and employees are not paid fully wages that were defined by the government.
In Bago Township, the training was administered by AAPP’s Human Rights Trainer, Ko Aung Thein Kyi and Human Rights Documentation and Transitional Justice Trainer Ko Sai Myint Thu. A total of 22 people (13 women and 9 men) participated in the training. Participants are civilians and members of National League for Democracy (NLD), Shwe Taing Funeral Service Society, Myat Wunn Thit Group, Human Rights Educators Association, Toe Tat Yay Library and Karen Women Organization. They all are Burmese and Karen backgrounds. Bago Township faces public places were confiscated (sport place and and religious place) some administrators take briberies.
Figure 1 Transitional Justice training in Bago
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
Thirty-Nine Lectures on Human Rights Provided to Students
In August, AAPP provided a total of 39 lectures in nine 39 basic education high schools in Thaton Township, Paung Township, Mottama Township and Bilin Township in Mon State.
We provided 17 lectures in 17 basic education high schools in Thaton Township, 10 lectures in 10 basic education high schools in Paung Township, two lectures in two basic education high schools in Mottama Township and 10 lectures in 10 basic education high schools in Bilin Township. A total of 14,939 students attended the lectures.
The following officials provided the opening:
- Saw Kyaw Moe, a member of Mon parliamentary ethnic affairs committee, delivered the opening speech at Thaton Township B.E.H.S (Ma Yann Gone Village), B.E.H.S (Ka Tike Ka Lay) and No.1 Basic Education High School (Thaton),
- U Aung Kyaw Thu, Chairman of Complaint Letter Committee, Public Accounts Committee, Financial Planning and Economic Committee review Committee, delivered the opening speech at No.2 Basic Education High School (Thaton)
- Daw Khaing Khaing Lei, Chairman of Legislative Committee, Committee on Women’s and Children’s Rights and U Aung Kyaw Thu, Chairman of Complaint Letter Committee, Public Accounts Committee, Financial Planning and Economic Committee review Committee, delivered the opening speech at Thaton Township B.E.H.S (Pa Tein Yoe and Paw Pha Village), B.E.H.S (Naung Kalar Shan Village)
Figure 2 HR lecture at Paung Township
AAPP representatives, Ko Aung Myo Kyaw, Ko Wanna Nwe and Ko Kyaw Oo gave an introduction of AAPP and its activities and purpose of lecture. Ko Aung Myo Kyaw, Ma Zun Pang, Ko Wanna Nwe, Ko Kyaw Oo, Ko Ko Aung, Ko Khin Maung Win, Ko Phyo Swe Maung, Ko Myo Htut Aung, Ko Htwe Maw and Ko Myo Tun 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.
At the end of each presentation, AAPP distributed Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) pamphlets to raise awareness amongst the participants.
ADVOCACY AND LOBBYING
Political Officer from the U.S. Embassy Visited Rangoon AAPP’s office
Figure 3 US embassy museum visit
On August 2, Ian R. Mackenzie, a political officer from the U.S. Embassy visited Rangoon AAPP’s office. Ko Aung Myo Kyaw, head of the AAPP’s Rangoon office, and Ko Zaw Moe, Officer In-Charge of the Documentation and Research Team/Deputy Foreign Affairs, and Ko Kyaw Soe Win, Mental Health Assistance Program (MHAP) Chief, explained AAPP’s activities and answered any questions. Subsequently, Ko Aung Myo Kyaw, Ko Zaw Moe, and Ko Kyaw Soe Win showed and explained AAPP’s museum exhibition, “Memory of the Past”, to Ian R. Mackenzie.
Karenni Youth Visit AAPP’s Museum
Figure 4Kareeni Youth museum visit
On August 9, the Wing Institute arranged for 28 Karenni Youths to visit AAPP’s museum, “Memory of the Past”. AAPP’s museum representative explained the exhibition and the politics of the political prisoner movement. Then AAPP Secretary Ko Tate Naing met with the Karenni Youths and explained AAPPs activities.
Seoul National University Visits AAPP’s Museum
Figure 5 Seoul National University visit
On August 12, a group led by Moon Suk Hong from Seoul National University’s Global Education Cooperation visited AAPP’s museum exhibition “Memory of the Past”. AAPP representative explained the exhibition and how what former political prisoners lives were like.
Deputy Ambassador George Sibley and Groups Visited AAPP’s museum
Figure 7 Birtish Embassy visit
On August 14 Deputy Ambassador George Sibley, Gender Advisor to the U.S. Embassy PhD Valerie Begley, and Lee Alison Sibley visited AAPP’s museum exhibition ‘Memory of the Past’. AAPP’s Secretary Ko Tate Naing, Mental Health Assistance Program (MHAP) Chief Ko Kyaw Soe Win, and Officer In-charge of the Documentation and Research Team/Deputy Foreign Affairs Ko Zaw Moe explained the exhibition. After this they discussed AAPP’s human rights activities, future plans and policies.
Representatives of the Mental Health and Psycho-Social Service of ICRC Visited AAPP’s Museum Exhibition
Figure 8ICRC musuem visit
On August 24 Representatives of the Mental Health and Psycho-Social Service visited AAPP’s museum exhibition “Memory of the Past”. Sarah Henriette, Mina Khenati, and Health Field Officer from International Committee of the Red Cross, Kyaw Zaw Han, were shown the exhibit by AAPP’s Mental Health Assistance Program Chief, Ko Kyaw Soe Win.
Representatives from France Embassy Office Visit AAPP’s Museum
Figure 9 French Embassy museum visit
On August 31 representatives from the French embassy visited AAPP’s office and museum. Joachim Stassart, political attaché from the Rangoon embassy, and Ma Naing Naing Tun, public relations at the French embassy,visited the AAPP office. AAPP’s Joint-Secretary Ko Bo Kyi and Ko Zaw Moe, Officer In-Charge of the Documentation and Research Team/Deputy Foreign Affairs, explained AAPP activities before answering questions on AAPP, Burma’s current political situation and freedom of expression in the country. After the discussion Ko Kyaw Soe Win explained AAPP’s museum exhibition “Memory of the Past”.
GENERAL ACTIVITIES
AAPP open new “8888” exhibition
Figure 10 8888 exhibition
AAPP held an exhibition at Yangon University from August 6-8 to mark the 30th anniversary of the 1988 uprising. There were many well-known figures present, including Information Minister Dr Phay Myint. AAPP representatives were at hand to explain the new exhibition.
Give a Memorable Speech at the Opening Ceremony of the Achieved Democracy Monument
On August 8 AAPP Secretary Ko Tate Naing gave a memorable speech at the opening of the Achieved Democracy Monument in Bago Town.
Figure 11 Democracy Monument opening in Bago
Funeral of Ma Mee Mee
Figure 12Attending Ma Mee Mee funeral
On August 16 Joint-Secretary Ko Bo Kyi, and U Zaw Moe (Officer In-Charge of the Documentation and Research Team/Deputy Foreign Affairs), and Ko Kyaw Soe (Mental Health Assistance Program Chief) attended the funeral of former political prisoner Ma Mee Mee. Ma Mee Mee was a prominent member of the 88 Generation Peace and Open Society. U Min Ko Naing and U Ko Jimmy, and Rangoon Chief Minister Phyo Min Thein were also in attendance.
Provide Money Donated for Political Prisoner
On August 27, a group of former political prisoners from Insein prison went to the prison to provide money donated for political prisoner Aung Ko Htwe on behalf of AAPP.
Mental Health Assistance Program
CETA Counseling
August: (Hnget Aw Sann Youth Training Center (Juvenile Prison)
Every Monday in August, one Supervisor and five Counselors went to Hnget Aw Sann Youth Training Center (Juvenile Prison) to provide CETA mental health counseling services. In August,18 clients are receiving CETA mental health counseling services.
August (Women Vocational Training Center and Women Development Center)
Every Saturday and Sunday in August, five female counselors went to Women Vocational Training Center. In August, seven clients completed their CETA counseling sessions and 12 clients are receiving their counseling sessions.
Three female counselors went to the Women Development Center in Yangon to provide mental health counseling services. In August, two clients were completed their counseling session and six clients are receiving counseling.
In August, 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 August, 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 August, seven female and six male clients completed their CETA counseling sessions and 12 female and nine male clients continued their counseling sessions.
Provide Stress Management and Self Care Training
On the 13 and 14 of August, CETA trainer U Htin Aung and Supervisor Daw Than Than Htay went to Pyay, Bago Region to give mental health awareness and self-care training on the final day of AAPP’s Human Rights, Human Rights Documentation and Transitional Justice training.
Figure 14 Self Care Training in Bago
On the 28th and 29th of August, Chief of MHAP U Kyaw Soe Win and counselor U Lwin Moe Myint went to Bago to give to give mental health awareness and self-care training, on the final day of AAPP’s Human Rights, Human Rights Documentation and Transitional Justice training.
For more information:
Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP)
Tate Naing (Secretary)
+95(0) 9428023828
Bo Kyi (Joint Secretary)
+081 962 8713
Aung Myo Kyaw Office In charge +95(0) 428117348
Download link for Newsleter August Newsletter Eng
