JUNE NEWSLETTER 2019 DISCUSSIONS

Human Rights Lectures Held in Mandalay

Division

In June, AAPP held a total of seven human rights

lectures to students in Meiktila Township and

Myingyan Township in Mandalay Division. A total

of 2,560 students and teachers attended the lectures.

In Meiktila Township, AAPP provided (4) lectures

to students of Meiktila Computer University,

Meiktila Technological University, Meiktila

University of Economics and Meiktila University. A

total of 1,660 students and teachers attended the

lectures.

In Myingyan Township, AAPP provided (3) lectures

to students of Meiktila Degree College, A Linn Oo

Yin Free Education School and Shar Taw Village

Monastery School. A total of 900 students and

teachers attended the lectures.

Figure 1 Human Rights Lecture at Shar Taw Village Monastery School

AAPP representatives, U Aung Myo Kyaw and Ko

Wanna Nwe gave an introduction of AAPP and its

activities and purpose of the lecture. Then, U Aung

Myo Kyaw, Ko Wanna Nwe and Ko Khin Maung

Win addressed the attendees. During our discussion,

we showed a powerpoint presentations about the 30

Articles of the Universal Declaration of Human

Rights (UDHR) and responsibility and

accountability and there were questions and answers

with students. Then, we showed a short cartoon

about discrimination, discipline and showed short

films to students about how they should try to reach

their goal and persevere when they are on their

journey of life and then discussed with them.

Afterward, AAPP staff answered the questions of

the participants.

At the end of each presentation, AAPP distributed

the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)

pamphlets to raise awareness of human rights

amongst the participants.

TRAINING

Human Rights (Trainers) and Transitional

Justice (Advance) Training Held in Pyin Oo Lwin

The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners

(Burma) (AAPP) held a Human Rights (Trainers)

and Transitional Justice (Advance) Training in the

month of June. A 20-day training from June 6-25

was organized in Pyin Oo Lwin Township,

Mandalay.

The training was administered by AAPP’s Human

Rights Trainer, Ko Saw Than Hlaing, and

Transitional Justice Trainer, Ko Sai Myint Thu. A

total of 24 people (15 women and 9 men)

participated in the training. Participants included

members of Karen Literature and Culture, National

League for Democracy(NLD), Ta’ang Women

Organization (TWO), Kachin Women Association

Thailand (KWAT), 88 Peace and Open Society,

Future Light Youth Network, Kuki Students, Ray of

Light, Roman Catholic Youth Group, CSO NW, CA

Group, Zomi Students and Youth Organization

(ZSYO), Color Rainbow Youth Welfare, Ywet Sein

Nu Environmental Conservation Group, Marga

Social Welfare Association, Mother Land, Mai Wei

Youth Group and Yi Ywel Yar Social Development

Group. Participants are from Shan, Burmese, Danu,

Karen, Mon, Kachin, Ta’ang, Shani, Kuki and Chin

Ethnic backgrounds. Participants, who attended the

training from the different areas, had reported the

human rights violations occurring in these areas. The

ethnic armed groups ask for tributes and recruitment

from the villages near Kyaukme and Hsi Paw

Townships in Northern Shan State, freedom of

movement are restricted in Namhsan Township in

Shan State while villagers are often questioned due

to the fights which occurred often and civilians are

not able to travel freely in Kachin State.

Figure 2 HR and TJ Training at Pyin Oo Lwin

These trainings 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

Meeting with Representatives of the British

Embassy

On June 4, Zoe Hambrjdgr (Myanmar Desk Officer,

FCO of British Embassy), Ko Zaw Naing Oo a.k.a

Khaing Thurein (Political Officer of British

Embassy) and Naw Luu Luu (Programme Officer )

from the British Embassy visited the office of

AAPP in Rangoon. U Bo Kyi, AAPP Joint

Secretary, U Soe Naing, head of AAPP’s Finance

Department, U Kyaw Soe Win, AAPP-MHAP

Chief, and Ko Zaw Moe, AAPP’s Documentation

and Research Chief and Deputy of Foreign Affairs,

held a meeting with them and discussed AAPP’s

current activities and the current political conditions

in Burma. Following the meeting, Ko Zaw Moe

gave them a museum tour.

Figure 3 Meeting with British Embassy

Meeting with Representatives of the United

States Embassy

On June 4, John Ryan (Political Officer, Political-

Economic Section), Micah L. Watson (Human

Rights International Organizations) and Khine

Mwan Lurnn (Political Specialist – Political and

Economic Section) from the United States Embassy

visited the AAPP office in Rangoon and had a look

around “the Memory of the Past Museum”. Ko Zaw

Moe, AAPP’s Documentation and Research Chief

and Deputy of Foreign Affairs, gave them a

museum tour. Then, U Bo Kyi, AAPP Joint

Secretary, U Kyaw Soe Win, AAPP-MHAP Chief,

and Ko Zaw Moe met with them and discussed

AAPP’s current activities and the current political

conditions in Burma.

Figure 4 Meeting with US Embassy

Process Negotiation of Prison Reform and

Reduction the Number of Inmates Meeting

On May 5, U Tate Naing, AAPP Secretary, U Bo

Kyi, AAPP Joint Secretary, U Aung Myo Kyaw,

head of AAPP Rangoon Office and U Soe Naing,

head of AAPP’s Finance Department, attended and

discussed the Process Negotiation of Prison Reform

and Reduction the Number of Inmates Meeting at

the Pyithu Hluttaw Public Affairs Management

Committee. MPs, who are committee members, and

chairman of the Committee, Myanmar National

Human Rights Commission (MNHRC), Myanmar

Police Force, Correctional Department,

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC),

members of the Assistance Association for Political

Prisoners (AAPP) and Parliament based Public

Support Team attended the meeting.

Figure 5 Attending Prison Reform Meeting

Meeting with the US Embassy and Reparation

Working Group

On the 10th June 2019, Ambassador Kelley Currie,

Ambassador Scot Marciel (US Ambassador to the

Republic of the Union of Burma), Mr. Ari Bassin

(Senior Advisor, US Department of State) had a

meeting with members of Reparation Working

Group; Ko Tate Naing (AAPP), Ko Bo Kyi

(AAPP), Ko Zaw Moe (AAPP), Ko Han Gyi (ND-

Burma), Ko Ye Aung (OMI), Ko Twin Lin Aung

(GPS), Ma Thet Thet Aung (FLC), at American

Centre and discussed the purpose of organizing

Reparation Working Group, Reparation Policy,

Implemented Activities and the Future Plan.

Members of RWG provided the answers relating to

questions raised by Ambassadors and Senior

Advisor. Then, they also discussed the current

Human Rights Situation of Burma and the possible

opportunity of developing a Reparation Policy in

Burma.

Figure 6 Meeting with US Embassy and Reparation Working Group

AAPP Attended EU-Myanmar Civil Society

Forum on Human Rights

On June 12, Zaw Moe, AAPP’s Documentation and

Research Chief and Deputy of Foreign Affairs,

attended the EU-Myanmar Civil Society Forum on

Human Rights which was held in Nay Pyi Taw.

Figure 7 Attending EU-Myanmar Civil Society Forum on Human Rights

Representatives of the British Embassy,

including the British Ambassador, visited AAPP

On June 17, representatives of the British Embassy

in Rangoon led by Dan Chugg (Ambassador of

British Embassy, Yangon) and Menna Rawlings,

Director-General Economic and Global Issues at the

Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) visited the

AAPP office in Rangoon and had a look around

“The Memory of the Past Museum”. AAPP officials

gave them a museum tour; then U Aung Myo

Kyaw, head of AAPP Rangoon Office, U Kyaw Soe

Win, AAPP-MHAP Chief, Ko Zaw Moe, AAPP’s

Documentation and Research Chief and Deputy of

Foreign Affairs and Ma Than Than Htay, supervisor

of AAPP-MHAP, held a meeting with them to

discuss AAPP’s current activities and the current

political conditions in Burma.

Figure 8 British Embassy Representatives visiting AAPP

GENERAL ACTIVITIES

Delivered a Speech at the World Drug Day

On June 25, U Aung Myo Kyaw, Rangoon Office

Head, delivered a speech on behalf of AAPP at the

ceremony of the World Drug Day which was

organized by Pa’O Youth Organization at Taunggyi

in Shan State.

Figure 9 Speech at World Drug Day

International Day in Support of Victims of

Torture

On June 26, Assistance Association for Political

Prisoners (AAPP), Women's League of Burma

(WLB), the Vimutti Women's Organization (VWO)

and Asia Justice And Rights (AJAR) held the

International Day in Support of Victims of Torture in

Rangoon. Daw Hin Pan Eain was a master of

ceremony and Daw Khin Mi Mi Khine from VWO

delivered an opening speech. Then, AAPP Secretary

U Tate Naing delivered an opening speech. Then, Ko

Zaw Moe from AAPP discussed torture and

UNCAT. According to Penal Discussion, U Thwin

Linn Aung was a moderator and AAPP-MHAP chief

Kyaw Soe Win, Naung Moh Moh from WLB and

lawyer Khin Khin Kyaw were panelists.

Figure 10 Attending International Day in Support of Victims of Torture

MENTAL HEALTH ASSISTANCE

PROGRAM

Attended the National Mental Health Policy

Revise Workshop in Nay Pyi Taw

From June 5th to June 6th, U Kyaw Soe Win,

AAPP-MHAP Chief, and Ko Zaw Moe, AAPP’s

Documentation and Research Chief and Deputy of

Foreign Affairs, attended the National Mental

Health Policy Revise Workshop. It was held in

Green Amara Hotel in Nay Pyi Taw.

Figure 11 Attending National Mental Health Policy Revise Workshop in Nay Pyi Taw

MHAP Presentation to Vocational Training

School for Disabled Adults

On June 19th, U Kyaw Soe Win, AAPP-MHAP

Chief, Ma Than Than Htay, supervisor of MHAP,

and three counselors visited Kyaik Wine Vocational

Training School for Disabled Adults (Yangon).

Then, U Kyaw Soe Win presented disabled adults

from Kyaik Wine Vocational Training School for

Disabled Adults (Yangon) about the Mental Health

Assistance Program (MHAP). Then, the supervisor

and counselors collected a list of people who are

interested in receiving mental health counseling

services.

Figure 12 Presentation at Vocational Training School for Disabled Adults

TRAINING

Mental Health Awareness and Self-care Training

On June 18, Ko Htin Aung, trainer of MHAP

provided mental health awareness and self-care

training to 24 participants of AAPP’s Basic Human Rights, Human Rights Documentation and

Transitional Justice (Advance) Training which was

held in Pyin Oo Lwin Township in Mandalay

Division.

Figure 13 Self Care training in Pyin Oo Lwin

Counseling

In June, three counselors visited Women Vocational

Training Center in Yangon on every Saturday and

Sunday. Three clients completed their counseling

sessions and six clients are receiving their

treatment.

A counselor visited Women Development Center in

Yangon on every Saturday in June, two clients are

receiving counseling.

One supervisor and five counselors visited Hgnet

Aw Sann Youth Training Center (Juvenile prison)

on every Monday. In June 2019, 17 clients were

completed their counseling sessions and 18 clients

are receiving their treatment.

Six female counselors and two male counselors are

providing counseling to 16 trainees of Disable Adult

Vocational Training Center in Yangon.

In June 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 the migrant

population, the victims of human trafficking, sex

workers and victims of civil war in Myanmar. In

June, three female clients and two male clients

completed their counseling sessions, and 13 female

clients and nine male clients are receiving

counseling.

for More Information

Assistance Association for Political Prisoners

Tate Naing (Secretary) +95(0) 9428 023

828

Bo Kyi (Joint Secretary) +66(0) 819628713

Aung Myo Kyaw (In-Charge Office Rangoon)

+95(0) 9428117348