League for Democracy Party

The League for Democracy Party or LDP; (Khmer: គណបក្សសម្ព័ន្ធដើម្បីប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ) is a Cambodian political party that was formed on 15 July 2005. The party itself, however, was established on 26 June 2006.^[1] Its leader is Khem Veasna. The goal: "A Nation In Which We Live As Its Owner." The mission is to put the 8 Mechanisms as legal instruments to reduce the "power of the government" and bring power^[2] back to the citizens. Continuing its goals with building knowledge and critical thinking and analysis, The League for Democracy Party has been active in conducting public forums for its supporters and sympathizers, roundtable discussions, workshops, live shows and talk-backs on radios since 2006, as a result, more than 2,000-hours speeches are posted on its website (www.camldp.org). Speeches are also available in medias in the form of CDs, memory sticks, VCDs, etc. throughout LDP's offices in Cambodia^[3]

The LDP organization is uniquely shaped by the following characteristics

1. Goal: Our common dreams, "A nation in which we, as citizens, live with justice and equality."
2. Starting point: Everything shall begin from the participation of the citizens for it is the foundation of LDP.
3. Political attitudes: integrity in terms of both attitudes and ideas are the vital part of the LDP core value.
4. Personal characteristics: The following are some of the characteristic qualities of LDP members and followers:

. Quality of hearts and minds
. Integrity  
. Trustworthiness  
. Brave
. Altruism 

These characteristics of the human qualities are desperately needed for our core political movement.^[4]

History

The LDP ordinary congress celebrated on 6 November 2011 with about 2000 participants

LDP President, Khem Veasna

The League for Democracy Party (LDP)was formed on 15 July 2005 by a small groups of people that had similar ideas and conviction to solve Khmer's social and political issues.

The founders filed the procedure to establish the League for Democracy Party in accordance with the laws relating to the establishment of political parties. The LDP party was recognized, established, and registered officially with the announcement of the Ministry of Interior, 792 ប្រ.ក. Dated 26 June 2006.

The League for Democracy Party (LDP) was established with difficulties due to lack of human resources who would dare to challenge the recent (post 1979) establishment of social norm in Khmer society such as corruption, selfishness, divisiveness, power-hungry, etc.. If that were not bad enough, the major challenge comes from long established propaganda by the government (CPP) to maintain control by accumulating its power via corruption, nepotism, and illegal foreign government intervention into Cambodia's sovereignty that was established by the Paris Peace Accord on October 23, 1991. Another major challenge that faces LDP organization is from the pretentious, and self-interest political parties who, in the name of rescuing and saving Khmer people and its nation, forms political party for financial gain from its own citizens and from expats living abroad. These parties were formed to divide political voices from the true and patriotic politicians as well as a divisive tools to alienate Khmer citizens. The challenges are from both the current government (CPP) and from the pretentious political parties in Cambodia. However, the greatest challenge of all is from Khmer people themselves. Over the past 30 years Khmer people have been traumatized, indoctrinated, manipulative social conditioning, and deceived due to lack of knowledge, education, and the lack of understanding of its own true history (of what really happened from 1965 -1979) and its own rich history of Khmer nation. To reverse the course in people's thinking and the reviving the consciousness of its citizens is one of the greatest challenge to LDP party leaderships. Despite these obstacles, LDP leader (Khem Veasna) and members remain steadfast with determination to stand against every challenge and never to be divided. The strong steadfast commitment is based on the unique qualities of human characteristics that every LDP member's possesses or should possess either instinctively or through wisdom and experience. These qualities include integrity, honesty, altruism, patriotism, and trustworthiness. LDP member is and should also possess a clear vision and purpose: TO HELP OUR CITIZENS SOLVE POLITICAL & SOCIAL INJUSTICE by transformation of the minds and hearts of its citizens and to truly realize that the government belongs to the people and should be "...deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed..." (from US Declaration of Independence). LDP have clearly defines one of the major root cause to the problems that has existed in Khmer society since the mid 20th century, it is The Collected Power in the government. "The Collected of Power" in the government gives the political party hegemony over its own citizens by abolishing transparency, check & balance, and abolishing the true representation of the citizens. Of course, history of collection of power have long existed in the royal families throughout Asia and around the world; however, times have changed, but Cambodia is one the last few nations to truly grasp the concepts of democratic government of "deriving just power from the governed".^[5]

LDP Progressive Journey

For commune council election in 2012, the LDP won eight commune council seats. "This was nothing compared with the five larger parties’ wins — from the CPP’s 8,000 seats down to the Norodom Ranariddh Party’s 52 – but the LDP’s tally still set it apart from the other small parties, which won at most one seat."^[6]

Quotes from Khem Veasna

• "To revolutionize a society outright, we must change its people. To change the people, we must change their mindsets first."
• "Since I was born to this world, the evils will find it difficult to prevail. But if I died of this cause, I would also die happy"
• "We hold out an unequivocal signal that the dignified, civilized society doesn't tolerate your dirty deeds."
• "When you keep your fingers on the pulse of politics, the politicians will stay on track"
• "If we wished to deceive you—why would we equip you with the foundation for critical thinking?"
• "Right or wrong cannot be determined by the amount of support."
• "Our personal interests may not be the national interest; nevertheless the national interest is clearly for everyone’s benefit."
• "Great people solve problems—they do not monotonously talk of them."
• "Nothing is beyond our comprehension. If we think critically, we have the ability to understand anything."
• "Selfishness alone is sufficient to bring apocalypse upon a nation."
• "One that harbours sinister intentions will always keep others uneducated."
• "You may dislike me for what I say to you. However if to gain your love means to suppress a truth from the depth of my heart. I am satisfied being disliked."
• "In every circumstance, whether it gains votes or not—providing people with a foundation for critical thinking is of the utmost importance for the LDP."
• "To revolutionize a society, its people must be changed. To do so, the people’s mindset must be changed first."

Political ideologies

According to the Constitution, all "powers" belong to the people of Cambodia as a fundamental tenet of democracy.since it wants to protect Cambodia's "sovereignty". The party is considered left wing in its view since it believes that "all" Cambodians must live equally under the laws, as asserted in the party's common dream: "A nation in which we live in equity as its owners". In speeches of Mr. Khem Veasna, President of the League for Democracy Party (LDP), the ruling establishment has been enjoying their chic lifestyle above the laws, which has created all sorts of problems Cambodia faces today. The main strategy of the solution to the problems is to decentralize all the powers that have long been consolidated by the ruling party. This is to unburden the works of the top leadership of the nation and create new responsibilities for lower levels of the administrative system, which are to be directly elected by the people. In this regard, people choose their leaders and they are in turn responsible for the future of their nation.

However, the League for Democracy Party also believes that democracy is useless if the people are uneducated and ignorant. And that's why the main job of the party right after its inception is to explain the people thoroughly about democracy and purpose of life based on the Dharma, which is believed by the party to have long been distorted and embedded in Cambodia. If people know the purpose of life, the essence of democracy, they will choose their leaders at all levels wisely, stemming the tradition of demagogue of Cambodian politicians.

But Cambodians have been living under totalitarian monarchy since its history was first recorded. Cambodians have been left uneducated as historians have observed. Top decision-making is the job of politicians. The LDP's main work is to undertake an in-depth revolution of mindsets. The LDP believes that people are the owners of the nation and they should get involved in determining the future of the nation and take responsibility accordingly.

The First Congress of LDP in 2011

For long, Cambodians are lazy and less likely to take responsibility. Cambodians are accustomed to blaming leaders if they have chosen them wrong. They never put blame on themselves for choosing someone wrong. The LDP's work is also to push people to bear this responsibility. There have also been social scholars, who dared to reveal the characteristics of the Khmer, most notably Bun Chanmol, but those revelations have been rejected and ignored. Yet the League for Democracy Party believes that changing the mindsets of the people is the onset of development and changing people's mindsets from wrong to right is the job of the leader. It also believes that it has the capacity to explain the people and media, highly restricted by the government, is the only channel it believes to reach out to rural poor.

Media is everything the party needs and it has long been fighting for this.

The eight political mechanisms

LDP rallying

The Campaign in Seim Reap, 2013

The aim of the eight mechanisms is to reduce, limit, and monitor the power of governments at all levels, whereby the citizens, through unity, maintain control of the governments. The proposed transformational results would help solve social and economic injustice in Cambodia.

1. The term of office of the Prime Minister shall be limited by 20 terms (5years per term) : This prevent authoritarianism, despotism, or totalitarianism government that gives to exploitation, corruption, and nepotism that greatly affects society and ultimately lead to a failed state.
2. Prime Minister or any high ranking government officials shall not be allowed to form his/her own security team or bodyguards: The personal formation of security team can be assimilate to the formation of ambitious self-serving arm-force that can lead to an authoritarian power struggle. Therefore, does not serve the interest of the citizens.
3. The Prime Minister shall temporarily make residency, during his/her terms in the executive office, provided by the government of the people: This is a security measure to safeguard the Prime Minister and immediate family while serving the nation.
4. Create an administration court.
5. The role and function as well as the promotion of general of military and police should be approved by the Parliament.
6. The Government Official should be neutral.
7. There must be people's representation or elected representative at all levels of governments (Commune/Sangkat, District/Khan and Province/City) The representation is to serve the people's voices.
8. Using of uni-nominal system to elect the members of Parliament.^[7]

LDP radio programs

Khem Veasna RFA

The Campaign in BB, 2013

General election results

Election	Total seats won	Total votes	Share of votes	Outcome of election	Election leader
2008	00 / 123	68,389	1.03%	00 seats; non-government party	Khem Veasna
2013	00 / 123	68,909	1.15%	00 seats; non-government party	Khem Veasna

LDP offices

• Phnom Penh LDP office
• Location: No. 108 B2 St. 315 Sangkat Boeung Kak II, Toul Kork, Phnom Penh
• see: Map
• Call: (010,011,012,013,015,067)53 2003

• Battambang LDP office
• Location: No. 249, National highway 5, Beng Village, Anlong Vil Commune, Sangke district, Battambang province.
• see: Map
• Call: 092 53 2003

• Takeo LDP office
• Location: Phsaar takao village, r kar knong commune, Krong Doun Kaev, Takeo province.
• see: Map
• Call: 016 932 608

• Kampong Chhnag LDP office
• Location: ភូមិត្រពាំងអញ្ខាញ, Svay chroum commune, ស្រុករលាប្អៀរ, Kampong Chhnag province.
• see:
• Call: 015 446 744

• Siem Reap LDP office
• Location: No. 0058, Tavean village, Sala korek district, Siem Reap city.
• see: Map
• Call: 011 732003^[8]

See also

• Khem Veasna

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: League for Democracy Party (category)

Wikiquote has quotations related to: League for Democracy Party

• ldp OS
• LDP Quotes

Social Networks

• LDP Headquarter គណបក្សសម្ព័ន្ធដើម្បីប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ
• LDP Football Club
• List of incidents attributed to the Cambodian Peoples Party on the START database

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