AAPP’s APRIL NEWSLETTER 2019

 TRAININGS

Human Rights, Documentation of Human Rights Violations, and Transitional Justice Trainings Held in Myeik in Tanintharyi Region

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 a training in Myeik in Tanintharyi Region in the month of April. A 11-day training from April 20-30 was organized in Myeik in Tanintharyi Region.

The 11-day training from April 20-30 was administered by AAPP’s Human Rights Trainer, Ko Saw Than Hlaing, and Documentation of Human Rights Violations and Transitional Justice Trainer, Ko Tin Myo Htut. A total of 32 people (14 women and 18 men) participated in the training. Participants included members of National League for Democracy (NLD), Mother Land, Future Youth, Mawlamyine Student Union, Youth Network, Labor Promotion, Fishery Development, Youth Welfare, Farmers’ Union, Tanintharyi CSO Network, People’s Power Network, civilians and students and participants are from Mon, Burmese and Dawei Ethnic backgrounds. Myeik District faces land confiscations.

Figure 1 TJ Training in Myeik

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

Transitional Justice Training Provided Trainees of  the Women’s Initiatives Platform (WIP)

 TJ training provided to WIP

 

From April 19 to April 23, Wunna Nwe, trainer of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), provided the Transitional Justice Training to 17 trainees of the Women’s Initiatives Platform (WIP) in Pyin Oo Lwin, Mandalay Division.

Transitional Justice Training Provided KWAT

Figure 3 TJ training provided by KWAT

 

From April 25 to April 29 at Muse, Shan State, Wunna Nwe, trainer of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), provided the Transitional Justice Training to Kachin Women’s Association Thailand (KWAT) (Female 18, Male 4).

ADVOCACY AND LOBBYING

Representatives Led Anna Cave Visited AAPP

Figure 4 Anna Cave, David Angeles visit AAPP Museum in Rangoon

On April 5, Anna Cave (Director – Ferencz International Justice Initiative Simon-Skjodt Center for the Prevention of Genocide), David Angeles and another one from UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM visited the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners’ (AAPP) museum “Memory of the Past” in Rangoon. AAPP’s Joint Secretary, U Bo Kyi, along with AAPP’s Documentation and Research Chief and Deputy of Foreign Affairs, Ko Zaw Moe, explained the museum.

U.S Representatives Visited AAPP

Figure 5 US Embassy representatives visits AAPP

On April 8 2019, Ian R. MacKenzie (Political Officer – Political-Economic Section), Scott Eric Kofmehl (Political Unit Chief), Colonel Craig J. Tippins (U.S. Army – Senior Defense Official and Defense Attache to Myanmar), Robert R. Strang (Resident Legal Advisor – U.S. Department of Justice), Linnea M. Beatty, PhD (Deputy Country Representative Office of Transition Initiatives) and Khinr Mwan Lurnn (Political Specialist – Political and Economic Section) from the U.S. Embassy in Yangon, visited the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners’ (AAPP) museum “Memory of the Past” in Rangoon. They discussed with AAPP’s Joint Secretary, U Bo Kyi, along with AAPP’s Documentation and Research Chief and Deputy of Foreign Affairs, Ko Zaw Moe, about rule of law, law reform and the current political situation in Burma.

My Justice holds meeting with AAPP in Rangoon office

Figure 6 Delegates from My Justice visit AAPP

At 10 am on April 10, 2019, Caitlin Reiger (Team Leader of My Justice), U Zaw Myat Linn (Community Justice), U Tat Nay Htun (Legal Advisor), Ma Nwe Mar (CSOs), U Han Zar Htun (Former Judge), Cristina POL (Programme Manager – EU) and Hang ZaThawn (Senior Justice Sector Advisor) visited the Assistance Association for Political Prisoner’s museum “Memory of the Past” in Rangoon. Following the museum tour they had a meeting with Ko Tate Naing (Secretary of AAPP), Ko Bo Kyi (Joint – Secretary of AAPP) and Ko Aung Myo Kyaw (In Charge of Burma Office). They discussed about what activities AAPP are doing and potential future plans to work together.

Meeting Between the Delegation of the European Union to Myanmar and AAPP

Figure 7 Delegation of the EU to Myanmar visit AAPP

On April 23, Violeta PODAGELYTE (Political Officer of Political, News and Information Session) from the Delegation of the European Union to Myanmar visited the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners’ (AAPP) museum “Memory of the Past” in Rangoon; U Kyaw Soe Win, AAPP-MHAP Chief, gave him a tour. Then, U Tate Naing, AAPP Secretary, U Aung Myo Kyaw, in Charge of Burma Office, AAPP’s Documentation and Research Chief and Deputy of Foreign Affairs, Ko Zaw Moe, and U Kyaw Soe Win, AAPP-MHAP Chief, met him and discussed AAPP’s activities and current political conditions in Burma.

Delegation of the European Union to Myanmar Visit AAPP

Figure 8 EU ambassador visits AAPP

On April 30th, Mr. Kristian Schmidt, ambassador of European Union (EU) to Myanmar and Mr. Aung Aung, Political Officer of Political, News and Information Session of the European Union to Myanmar, visited the office of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners’ (AAPP) and viewed AAPP’s museum “Memory of the Past” in Rangoon; U Bo Kyi, AAPP Joint Secretary, U Aung Myo Kyaw, Head of AAPP’s Rangoon Office and Ko Zaw Moe, AAPP’s Documentation and Research Chief and Deputy of Foreign Affairs, gave them a tour. Then, U Tate Naing, AAPP Secretary, U Bo Kyi, AAPP Joint Secretary, Ko Zaw Moe, AAPP’s Documentation and Research Chief and Deputy of Foreign Affairs, and U Kyaw Soe Win, AAPP-MHAP Chief, met them and discussed AAPP’s activities, penal and justice sector reform and current political and human rights conditions in Burma.

MENTAL HEALTH ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

In April 2019, three counselors visited to Women Vocational Training Center in Yangon on every Saturday and Sunday. Two clients completed their counseling sessions and four clients are receiving their treatment.

A counselor visited to Women Development Center in Yangon on every Saturday and providing counseling to two clients.

One supervisor and five counselors visited to Hgnet Aw Sann Youth Training Center (Juvenile prison) on every Monday. In April 2019, 17 clients are receiving their treatment.

In April 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.

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.

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 April, two male clients are completed their counseling sessions and seven female and six male clients are are receiving their treatment.

for more information 

Assistance Association for Political Prisoners

Bo Kyi  Joint Secretary   +66 (0) 81 9628713

Aung Myo Kyaw In-charge of Rangoon Office +95(0)942811 7348

April Newsletter