APRIL NEWSLETTER 2018
DISCUSSION Human Rights and Good Governance Cultural Rights (ICESCR), and International Discussion Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Ko Aung Myo Kyaw and Ko Wanna Nwe spoke about In April, AAPP held a total of seven discussions good governance. about human rights and good governance for village and ward administrators, ten and hundred There were a total of 565 attendees. Participants Houses Group Elders in Shwedaung, Thegon, included village and ward administrators and Paungde, Pauk Khoung, Pyay and Pandaung members of the NLD youth organization. At the Townships in Bago Division. A discussion was held end of the discussion, AAPP distributed UDHR for the National League for Democracy (NLD) pamphlets and posters, papers describing ward members in New South Dagon Township, important aspects of the good governance system, Rangoon Division. The opening speech was and Chapter Four of the Ward and Village Tract delivered by townships and ward officials and Administration By-Laws. parliament representatives including the following:
Upper House Representative, Dr. Win Myint Chit Lower House Representative, Daw Mya Khwar Nyo Oo Lower House Representative, Daw Ni Ni Doon Rangoon Division Parliament Representative, U Nyi Nyi Shwedaung Township Administrator, U Khin Maung Soe Pauk Khoung Township Administrator, U Kyaw Htay Pyay Township Administrator, U Myat Kyaw
Thegon Township Deputy Administrator, U Tun Figure 1 Attendees at an AAPP discussion on human rights and good Thar Hla, and Yadanabon Ward Administrator in governance. Okshitpin Town, U Mya Thein
AAPP Provides Human Rights Lecture in Bago AAPP staff, Ko Aung Myo Kyaw, Ko Wanna Nwe Division and Ko Myo Htut Aung, explained the purpose of the discussion. On April 24, AAPP delivered a human rights lecture in Sitkwin Town, Thin Taw Kan Village Ko Wanna Nwe, and Ko Kyaw Oo then addressed Tract in Minhla Township, Bago Division. AAPP issues regarding human rights awareness, staff, Ko Myo Htut Aung, explained the purpose of including the 30 Articles of the Universal the discussion. Then, Ko Wanna Nwe addressed Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the issues regarding human rights awareness, International Covenant on Economic, Social and including the 30 Articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the
International Covenant on Economic, Social and TRAININGS Cultural Rights (ICESCR), and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Human Rights, Documentation of Human There were a total of 55 attendees including Rights Violations, and Transitional Justice village administrator At the end of the discussion, Training Held in Rangoon Division and Kachin AAPP distributed UDHR pamphlets and posters. State
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 April. A 10-day training from April 3-12 was organized in New South Dagon Township, Rangoon Division and a 11-day training from April 20-30 was held in Indawgyi Region, Kachin State.
In New South Dagon Township, the Training was administered by AAPP’s Human Rights Trainer, Ko Wanna Nwe, and Human Rights, Human Rights Figure 2 AAPP holding a human rights discussion in Bago Documentation, and Transitional Justice Trainer, Ko Tin Myo Htut. A total of 25 people (16 women Discussion about Human Rights and 9 men) participated in the training. On April 1 at Human Rights, the Ward and Village Participants included people of Burmese, Tract Administration Law and Good Governance Arakanese, Pa-O, Mon and Shan-Karen Discussion, Rangoon Office In-charge, Ko Aung backgrounds, as well as members of the National Myo Kyaw, led a discussion about Human Rights. League for Democracy (NLD), students and This Discussion was organized by the Social civilians. New South Dagon Township has faced Research and Development Group (SRDG) Group issues with children working without receiving and East Zaygone Ward Administrator in Insein their full wages and overtime wages and do not Township, Rangoon Division. There were 50 receive sufficient medical health care, despite participants who attended, including ward having to face danger at work. administrators and ten and hundred houses group elder. In Indawgyi Region, the training was administered by AAPP’s Human Rights Trainer Ma Zun Pan, and Human Rights Documentation and Transitional Justice Trainer Ko Kyaw Oo. A total of 27 people (12 women and 15 men) including students attended the training. Attendees are Shan, Burmese and Chin backgrounds. In Indawgyi region, crimes often occur due to poor rule of law.
These training served as capacity building measures, aiming to encourage and inform the participants about democratic principles.
Figure 3 Human rights discussion in Insein township
AAPP’s Documentation and Research In-Charge and Deputy Foreign Affairs Ko Zaw Moe, and AAPP’s Mental Health Assistance Program (MHAP) Chief Ko Kyaw Soe Win about AAPP’s activities and future plans, as well as the current political and human rights situation in Burma.
Figure 4 Human rights and transitional justice training
ADVOCACY AND LOBBYING
Australian Embassy, including Deputy Head of Mission Jeremy Kruse, Visit the AAPP Museum
On April 26, Australian Embassy Deputy Head of Mission, Jeremy Kruse, First-Secretary, Alex Street, and Senior Policy Officer, Jonathan McManus, visited the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners’ (AAPP) museum in Rangoon. They discussed with AAPP’s Joint Secretary, U Bo Kyi, AAPP’s Documentation and Research Chief and Deputy of Foreign Affairs, Ko Zaw Moe, and AAPP’s Mental Health Assistance Program (MHAP) Chief, Ko Kyaw Soe Win, about AAPP’s activities and future plans, as well as the current Figure 6 The US Ambassador visiting AAPP museum political and human rights situation in Burma. OHCHR Regional Officer for South East Asia Visits AAPP Museum
On April 29, Human Rights Officer, John Coughlan, from the OHCHR Regional Office for South East Asia and Human Rights Officer Asia - Pacific Region, Raja Azwa Petra, visited the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners’ (AAPP) Office in Rangoon. AAPP’s Joint Secretary, U Bo Kyi, and AAPP’s Documentation and Research Chief and Foreign Affairs Deputy, Ko Zaw Moe, met them Figure 5 Australian embassy team visiting AAPP's museum in and discussed AAPP’s activities and future plans, Yangon as well as the current political and human rights situation in Burma. They then looked around the US Ambassador Scott Marciel visited AAPP museum and the coordinators, U Bo Kyi and Ko Museum Zaw Moe, explained the exhibition for political prisoners within the country. On April 27, US Ambassador Scott Marciel, Political Officer Sean R.Smith, Political Specialist Khine Mwan Lurnn and two other embassy staff visited the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) museum in Rangoon and discussed with AAPP’s Joint Secretary U Bo Kyi,
of Mental Health Assistant Program. During the discussion, the AAPP delegation explained what AAPP is doing and Ministry side also explained what they are doing and what their needs where. The meeting was fruitful and both side agreed to continue communication into future.
Figure 7 OHCHR team members in discussion with AAPP MNHRC Commissioners, Led by Vice Chairperson U Sit Myaing, Visit AAPP Museum and Discuss Working Together on Human Rights Prevention and Promotion
On April 30, Myanmar National Human Rights Figure 9 AAPP in discussion with Ministry of Health and Sport Commission (MNHRC) commissioners, led by Vice Chairperson U Sit Myaing, visited the Guests Visit AAPP’s Memory of the Past Assistance Association for Political Prisoners Museum (AAPP) museum in Rangoon. AAPP’s Joint On April 6 and April 7, Swedish Burma Committee Secretary, U Bo Kyi and Ko Zaw Moe, In-Charge of Members and guests from Portugal visited AAPP’s Documentation & Research and Deputy of Foreign Memory of the Past Museum in Rangoon. In- Affair), explained the exhibition in Burma. They charge of the museum explained the exhibition. also discussed human rights prevention and promotion implemented by MNHRC and AAPP. MENTAL HEALTH ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (MHAP) Counseling Services for Clients Every Saturday and Sunday in April, four female counselors went to the Women’s Vocational Training Center. In April, three clients completed their CETA counselling sessions and nine clients are receiving their counseling sessions.
Every Saturday and Sunday in April, a female supervisors and three female counselors went to the Women Development Center in Yangon to provide mental health counselling services. In April one client completed their counselling Figure 8 MNHRC commissioners visiting AAPP museum sessions and five clients are receiving counselling AAPP delegations visit Ministry of Health and Every Monday in April, one supervisor and five Sport counselors went to Hnget Aw Sann Youth Training On April 30, Deputy Director General of Medical Center (Juvenile Prison) to provide CETA mental Services Department of Ministry of Health and health counselling services. In April, 11 clients are Sports, Dr. Thida Hla, Deputy Director General of receiving CETA mental health counselling Public Health Department of Ministry of Health services. and Sports, Dr. Thaung Hlaing, Dr. Htet Lin, Dr In April, AAPP-MHAP Mae Sot team provided Hanni Win from Ministry of Health and Sports CETA mental health counseling services for the hosted Aung Myo Kyaw who is in charge of migrant population, victims of human trafficking, Myanmar office and Kyaw Soe Win who is a chief
sex workers, and those affected by the ongoing conflict in Burma. Three counselors met with 16 Burmese migrants (11 women and 5 men) to deliver mental health assistance. Four female and one male Burmese migrant client finished their counseling. In April, AAPP-MHAP provided 105 clients and 25 clients completed their counselling sessions in Yangon, Mandalay, Magway, Bago and Mae Sot Thailand.
For more information:
Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP)
Tate Naing +95(0) 942 802 3828 Bo Kyi +66(0) 819 628 713