AUGUST NEWSLETTER 2017
TRAININGS Human Rights, Human Rights Documentation and Transitional Justice Training in Arakan State and Magwe Division
As a part of the series of regular Trainings on Transitional Justice, AAPP held two long Training's in the month of August. A 12-day Training from August 3-14 was organized in Thandwe Town in Arakan State, and an 11-day Training from August 16-26 was held in Salin Township, Magwe Division.
In Thandwe Town, Human Rights Trainer Ko Nay Transitional Justice Training in Wun and Human Rights Documentation and Thandwe Township, Arakan State Transitional Justice Trainer Ko Sai Myint Thu led the training. A total of 24 participants attended, including 22 people from Catholic Youth Network and two Catholic monks from Chin, Khume, Karen, HUMAN RIGHTS LECTURES Myo, and Asho backgrounds. Thirty-Five Lectures on Human Rights In Salin Township, the Training's was Provided to Students and Community administered by AAPP’s Human Rights Trainer Ko Saw Than Hlaing and Human Rights In August, the Assistance Association for Political Documentation and Transitional Justice Trainer Prisoners (AAPP_ provided a total of 35 lectures Ko Kyaw Oo. 25 people participated in the in four townships in Bago Division, one township training, including members of the NLD, the Salin in Rangoon Division, 33 lectures in 29 schools in Farmer Group, farmers union, youth organization Pyay, Paungde, Zigon, and Tharyarwaddy and village development groups, from both Chin Townships, one lecture at Phyu Sin A Lin Yaung and Burmese backgrounds. Free Education School in Paungde Township, and one lecture in Htantabin Township in Rangoon The regions faced challenges, so a set of issues Division. In August, over 12648 students and over was discussed at the trainings. In both Townships, 100 villagers attended the lectures. issues included threats of land confiscation, and corruption. These trainings serve as a capacity- From August 1- 5 and August 28-31, 16 lectures building measure, aiming to encourage and took place at the twelve governmental Basic inform their participants in the democratic setup. Education High School in Pyay Township. AAPP assisted in the organization of these by MP U Kyaw Zay Ya, Pyay Township Education Officer, Dr. Mar Mar Zin, Pyay Township NLD Chairman Dr. Khin Maung Win, Western Bago Assistant
Divisional Education Officer Daw Aye Aye Soe, Thein, Ko Kyaw Naing Oo, Ma Thin Myo Aye, U and Pyay Township Administrator U Myat Kyaw. Saw Myint Sein, and Ko Thein Ohn assisted the Chairman of a support group of Pyay Township lectures. Over 1891 students attended and Stability and Development, U Aye Lwin, delivered teachers were also present. the opening speech with representatives from the Pyay District former political prisoners group Ko On August 20, AAPP held a human rights lecture Kyaw San, 88 Peace and Open Society Ko Zaw Tun in Thel Phyu Village in Htantabin Township, Naing, and former political prisoner Ko Pyae Lwin Rangoon Division. Over 100 villagers in villages in A.K.A Pyu Phwe. The lectures were attended by Htantabin Township attended the lecture. U Aung over 5968 students and teachers attended the Myo Kyaw, Ko Wanna Nwe, Ko Tint Htoo Lwin, Ko lectures as well. Kyaw Oo, Ko Myo Htut Aung, and Ko Aung Gyi gave an introduction of AAPP and its activities, In addition, AAPP delivered seven human rights and then addressed basic human rights, he lectures at the seven governmental Basic history of human rights, the Universal Declaration Education High Schools and one lecture at the of Human Rights (UDHR), child rights, children Phyu Sin A Lin Yaung Free Education School in and danger of drugs, responsibility and Paungde Township, all between dates August 8- accountability, the International Covenant on 11. Divisional Parliament Representative U Tun Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and Tun Oo, Paungde Education Officer U Zaw Min, International Covenant on Economics, Social and Paungde Township Second Administrator, U Cultural Rights (ICESCR). At the end of each Thant Zin Tun, Second Officer of the Paungde presentation, AAPP distributed UDHR pamphlets Township General Administration Department, U to raise awareness amongst the participants. Nay Linn Tun, Police Lieutenant U Zaw Swe, and the Second Police Chief of the Paungde Township, The Government cooperated with AAPP to attended these lectures and delivered the opening organise these lectures, and helped make them a Speech. Paungde Former Political Prisoners
success.
Group representatives, Ko Min Swe Zin and Ko Saw Naing, Network for the People’s Benefit Representatives Ko Tint Lwin and Ko Paing, and former Political Prisoner Ko Pyae Lwin A.K.A Pyu Phwe helped AAPP organize the lectures. Over 2320 students attended and teachers were also present.
Six lectures were held at the six governmental Basic Education High Schools in Zigon Township from August 16-18. Child Actor Ei Si Kway
discussed his experiences as a youth and danger of drugs. Zigon Township former political Police Lieutenant U Zaw Swe, of the Paungde Township provides a lecture prisoner Ko Thein Htike Soe Oo and U Aung Htwe, about the dangers of drug use and former Political Prisoners Ko Pyae Lwin A.K.A Pyu Phwe assisted these lectures. The lectures were attended by over 2469 students.
ADVOCACY AND LOBBYING From August 22-23, four lectures were held at four governmental basic education high schools Meeting with Representatives from Swedish in Tharyarwaddy Township. Tharyarwaddy Embassy Township Education Officer U Ye Htut delivered On August 15, 2017, Head of AAPP’s Rangoon the opening speech and U Toe Lwin A.K.A Utaya A Office, Ko Aung Myo Kyaw and Head of Lin sang songs related to peace and human rights. Documentation and Foreign Affairs, Ko Zaw Moe Tharyarwaddy Former Political Prisoners, U Soe had a meeting with Minister Counselor – Head of
Office, Johan Hallenborg and Policy Advisor, Ghin Association). MHAP will continue implementing Mang Shoute from the Swedish Embassy. They treatment to individuals I need of mental health discussed the activities of the government counselling. regarding political prisoners, the political Counseling Services for Clients prisoner lists, a definition of political prisoners, the unconditional release of all political prisoners, In August, MHAP visited the Women’s and the rehabilitation of political prisoner’s post- Development Center and Women’s Vocational release. In addition, Ko Aung Myo Kyaw and Ko Training Center in Rangoon, run by the Zaw Moe explained the work of the AAPP, human Department of Social Welfare, Relief, and rights and legislative and prison reform. During Resettlement, to gave a counseling program to the the meeting, AAPP was informed that when women. Every Saturday, seven women from the representatives of the Swedish Embassy met with Women Vocational Training Center met with two Chairman of the Lower House of Parliament, U counselors from MHAP, and every Sunday, 11 Win Myint and discussed the creation of a women from the Women’s Development Center definition for political prisoners, they were told met with four counselors from MHAP to receive that it is not a priority of the Government to define mental health counselling. In addition, five MHAP political prisoners. counselors visited the Youth Training Center, ‘Hnget Awe San’ (a Juvenile prison) where, every Monday, they gave 19 youths counseling. Furthermore, the MHAP team in Mae Sot, Thailand has been giving counseling to Burmese Migrants. In July, three counselors met with 19 Burmese Migrants to deliver mental health assistance.
Meeting with representatives with the Swedish Embassy
MENTAL HEALTH ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (MHAP)
Common Elements Treatment Approach (CETA) Training Provided in Myitkyina
From August14-25, the Mental Health Assistance Program (MHAP) provided Common Elements MHAP Training Treatment Approach (CETA) counseling training to individuals in order for them to assist with the mental health care of people from ethnic areas. AAPP Chief Clinical Supervisor, Ko Kyaw Soe Win, Trainers Ko Htin Aung, and Daw Khin Nyein Chan Soe provided the training to a total of 27 staff from the Kachin Baptist Church (KBC), Shalom (Nyein Foundation), and the Substances Abuse Research