AAPP steps in to help Myanmar prisoners

Published on Monday, 07 January 2013 07:14

The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), a Thailand-based group of former Myanmar political prisoners in exile, visited Yangon for the first time over the decade.

Taik Naing, general secretary of the association, and Bo Kyi, joint secretary, arrived at the Yangon International airport in the evening of January 5.

“We have come here to cooperate with other organisations and political parties for release of the remaining political prisoners and their rehabilitation,” Taik Naing said.

They are scheduled to meet with the government bodies, politicians and 88 Generation Students Group (an activist association for democracy) on their visit.

“The government has now released thousand of political prisoners during President Thein Sein’s administrative term, but our records shows 200 are remaining in the prisons. Why are still imprisoned? We need to discuss with the authorities and make negotiation,” Taik Naing said.

He also added, “We need to work for rehabilitation of former political prisoners too. They have lost touch with education, health and the society at large. For their welfare, we will work with the organisations here to provide assistance as much as possible.”
AAPP will also hand over international awards which were accepted from international organisations on behalf of former political prisoners Min Ko Naing, Nilar Thein, Su Su Htwe and Thet Win Aung.

Founded on 23 March 2000, AAPP is a political prisoner advocacy organization that documents abuses against both former and current political prisoners and prison conditions.

It is also providing assistance to the families of political prisoners.