What is AAPP?
The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma), otherwise known as AAPP, is an independent human rights organization. AAPP advocates for the release of all remaining political prisoners in Burma and for the improvement of their quality of life during and after incarceration. AAPP has developed rehabilitation and mental health assistance programs for those political prisoners who have been released. As long as political prisoners exist inside Burma, Burma will not be free. They represent the struggle for democracy, human rights, equality and freedom for the people of Burma. This makes the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners an integral part of Burma’s drive for national reconciliation, and AAPP is currently working together with other partner organizations, sharing this same goal, to realize it.
History of AAPP
AAPP was founded on March 23, 2000, by former political prisoners who were living [in exile] on the Thai-Burma Border area. It was also the day when Min Ko Naing, a student leader and prominent figure during the 1988 uprising, who spent nineteen years in prison, was arrested, as well as the birthday of Thakin Kodaw Hmaing—the architect of peace in Burma. From 2000 to the present day, AAPP has successfully adapted to the on-going transformations of the political landscape within Burma. Since 2012, Burma has released a great number of political prisoners and the leaders of AAPP were removed from the Burmese government’s blacklist, allowing the organization to open an office in Rangoon inside Burma. As such, AAPP was able to further develop efficient nation-wide assistance programs in order to meet the needs of those released.
From its formation in January 2013, AAPP was a key member of the Committee for Scrutinizing the Remaining Political Prisoners (CSRPP) until it was disbanded at the beginning of 2015. Despite AAPP’s dedication and central role in the CSRPP, the military clique chose to exclude AAPP from the new body, the Prisoners of Conscience Affairs Committee, formed in January 2015. AAPP continues to campaign for the release of all remaining political prisoners. We were able to conduct extensive and far-reaching training on Human Rights and Transitional Justice across the country, and held Human Rights Awareness seminars at the Basic Education High Schools (BEHS) and universities/colleges. AAPP also worked together with relevant Hluttaw committees and organizations to enact reforms on the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC), the prison system of Burma, the police force, and the judicial system. (MHAP something something)
After the military coup in 2021, AAPP had to close its office in Burma for security reasons, and returned to operating at its office on the Thai-Burma Border area: systematically documenting human rights violations of the junta in Burma; working with international human rights organizations to hold the junta accountable for their crimes; and collaborating to the best of its ability to ensure the success of the Spring Revolution.
Our Vision
To bring about a free and federal democratic society where there are no political prisoners, civil and political rights are protected, maintained, and fulfilled, and national reconciliation can be achieved.
Our Mission
Our mission statement is to secure the unconditional release of all political prisoners in Burma and facilitate their smooth reintegration into society through comprehensive mental and physical rehabilitation. We are dedicated to safeguarding their right to safely participate in the democratization process, ensuring their voices are heard and valued.
We are committed to preventing human rights violations and providing protection for political activists, human rights defenders/campaigners, and all the people of Burma against any form of human rights abuses. By standing as a resilient and credible source of information, we diligently document the challenges faced by political prisoners, address the underlying systemic issues, and work tirelessly towards viable solutions.
Through tireless efforts, we strive to raise domestic and international awareness about the human rights abuses that have occurred, particularly in the aftermath of the 2021 military coup in Burma. By advocating and lobbying at the international level, we aim to instigate universal respect for civil and political rights within Burma's borders.
We firmly believe in collaborative efforts, and as such, we actively engage with local, regional, and international stakeholders to develop effective transitional justice policies and programs that foster national reconciliation. Together, we envision a future where the people of Burma can experience justice, equality, and freedom, and where the rights of all individuals are respected and protected without exception.
Objectives and Activities
Objective 1: To secure the unconditional release of all political prisoners, assist in their reintegration into society through mental and physical rehabilitation, and ensure their right to safe participation in the democratization process in Burma.
1.1 Coordinate assistance to current and former political prisoners, including victims/survivals and families of other human rights violations.
1.2 Give mental health counselling to political prisoners, families, other vulnerable groups, and civilians affected by trauma in Burma and work with stakeholders and other interested groups and individuals to develop mental health policy.
Objective 2: To prevent human rights violations and protect political activists, human rights defenders, and the people of Burma from all human rights violations.
2.1 Provide human rights, human rights documentation, and transitional justice trainings to civil society members, including marginalized representatives, women groups, political parties, and ethnic youths.
Objective 3: To continue to be a reliable and credible source of information on political prisoner issues in Burma by documenting issues political prisoners face, the wider overarching problems contributing to these issues, and how they can be resolved.
3.1 Monitor and document human rights violations, including political prisoners, prison conditions, and killings by the military junta and other armed groups.
3.2 Produce thematic research reports and daily briefings related to political prisoner and other human rights violations issues based on trends identified through monitoring and documentation as well as analysis of international law.
Objective 4: To raise awareness domestically and internationally about the human rights abuses committed in the past and post-2021 military coup in Burma, and through advocacy and lobbying at the international level to ensure universal respect of civil and political rights in Burma.
4.1 Work with accountability mechanisms to end the impunity of human rights violators in Burma with both domestic key stakeholders and international mechanisms such as IIMM.
4.2 Advocate and lobby international stakeholders to put political pressure in support of the democracy movement, and to domestic stakeholders for the respect of transitional justice policy and procedures and the rule of law.
Objective 5: To cooperate and initiate with local, regional, and international stakeholders in developing transitional justice policy and programs to foster national reconciliation.
5.1 Collaborate with CSOs, domestic and international stakeholders on prison conditions and prison reform policy as well as institutional, legislative, and policy frameworks relating to civil and political rights.