Khem Veasna

Khem Veasna
File:70ebf-khemveasna.jpg
President of the League for Democracy Party
Incumbent
Assumed office 26 June 2006
Preceded by	Position established
Personal details
Born	(1965-12-11) 11 December 1965 Kanhchriech, Prey Veng, Cambodia
Political party	League for Democracy Party
Parent(s)	Khem Huot (father) Sek Heng (mother)
Residence(s)	Siem Reap, Cambodia
Occupation	Businessman
Signature	File:Khem Veasna Signature.PNG
Website	Khem Veasna

Khem Veasna (// [kʰɨm ʋiəhsnaː]; Template:Lang-km; born 11 December 1965) is a Cambodian politician, the founder of the League for Democracy Party,businessman and a former actor, producer, director, representative of the Sam Rainsy Party for Prey Veng Province. He currently serves as the president of the League for Democracy Party (LDP). He is addressed by everybody as their relative "Brother Veasna" or "Uncle Veasna". He is recognized by his supporters as the first Cambodian revolutionary.

Veasna is a graduate of the Department of Media and Communication (RUPP). After graduation, he worked there for one and a half years. One more, He is a graduate of the Royal University of Law and Economics where he served as a generation president. He was tasked with solving the study issues. He graduated with a bachelor of law degree.

In the engagement as a politician, initially, he was a member of the Sam Rainsy Party, listed as a nominee since 1998 but not elected, later at the 2003 National Assembly Election for 3rd term, he was elected as a representative for Prey Veng Province; at that time he was 38 years old, in 2005, He formed a political party called the League for Democracy Party.

From 2005 to 2009, he was a speaker of the Training Development Organization (TDO). The purpose of this organization was explaining the democracy and dhamma to the people by going to some provinces. The money for processing this organization is from those who support the program, no aid from foreign organization. This organization was a part of the League For Democracy Party, and it was closed at the end of 2009.

Early life and career

File:Veasna Young.jpg

Khem Veasna at the age of 18

Veasna was a paternal orphan. He was born on 11 December 1965, in Peanea Village, Kdueng Reay Commune, Kanhchriech District, Prey Veng Province, in an ordinary family with two children, one son and one daughter. His younger sister's name is Khem Sreymom. His father was Khem Huot, a dentist. His mother was Sek Heng, a vendor and also a dentist.

His father died when he was 6 years old before Pol Pot's regime. Veasna was an industrious child, he nurtured chickens, ducks and helped his mother's work. When Veasna was eight years old, one night he asked his mother a question, "Mom, Will you die when you get old?" His mother was amazed and said "Yes". Veasna added, "Where are you gonna wait for me then?" Mother said "I don't know" after that Veasna had slept and weeping a night. His mother died in 2006. the cause of death is a half numb body decease. Veasna's childhood had lived almost entirely in two eras. The first was the time of foreign invasion (1970-1975), and the second was Pol Pot’s Genocidal Regime, which was backed by foreign countries (1975-1979). During Pol Pot's regime, he and his mother had lived in Peanea village where is his native land. During Pol Pot's regime he was a child among other children who lived under the domination of the black organization was commanded by organization to collect cow dungs.

After Pol Pot's regime was driven out in 1979; at that time Veasna was 12 years old. He started school as a second grade student during Lon Nol regime, and he enrolled again in the same grade in 1981, he skipped study in fourth grade, and later skipped again to study in seventh grade, then finishing his secondary education (Bacc II) in tenth grade, having spent seven years as a student. In 1982, the family moved to Phnom Penh. Veasna became a student of the Cinema Department of the Ministry of Propaganda and Information in 1986. At the first, he studied Camera Repairing and Maintenance, spending four years. Later, he worked for the Cinema Department for two years as a professional writer and film director; at that time the school had no degrees for its graduates.

In 2014, he moved to Siem Reap Province buying land to grow black pepper plants.

Art life

File:Khem Veasna 14.jpg

Veasna and his art colleagues

In 1988, Veasna initially began working as a photographer. After finishing school and during the years 1989-1993, he formed a film production named the Youth Filmography and was an actor, a filmmaker and screenwriter for his own films.

He made four films (One Slap In Remembrance, Girl's Charm, the Same Number One, Only One Stronger.) and the last was a drama, Whose fault? This drama was nearly finished but because of some problems this drama was impeded.

During the Khmer film generation, His movies were very popular. and each movie every producer spent much money from 5 to 10 domlengs but for him his film producing spent only 5-6 domlengs but when releasing the movie, his every movie fetched a better price than other's movie. He got nearly 20 domlengs for a movie. Compared to other producers, he got 1 × 3 earnings for a movie.

Veasna and his parents

Khem Huot (born in 1920, died in 1972) was a dentist and the father of Khem Veasna. He was born in a rich family. Khem Huot had 3 wives. The first wife got two children, and then died. the second wife got married a few months and then he divorced her. The third wife he found himself. The last two wives were pretty and rich, but he said that, "How much the glasses are, but they don't suit me, here are the glasses from the street but they suit me. Those two wives pretty and rich but they didn't suit my views.".

After marrying Sek Heng who was a girl in a poor family, his parents no longer acknowledged him as a child. Huot was also a person who familiar with dhamma. He taught his wife kill no animals. When he got married with his wife. He said to his wife that, "I want only two children and I will go to die." his wife thought he was kidding, but when he had got two children and Veasna was 6 years old at that time. He went to die.

Sek Heng

File:Khem Veasna mother.jpg

Sek Heng

Sek Heng was Veasna's mother, a vendor and also a dentist. Sek Heng born in 1944, died in 2006 she was younger than her husband 24 years. She had nine siblings. she was the second child in family. Sek Heng said to Veasna that, "Your dad for me he was not only a husband but a thankworthy person, a teacher and a god.".

Veasna wrote about his mother as follow:

“Since my dear mom passed away for 7 years, but for my own feeling, I feel new. When I was looking at her picture, the greeting made me startled. Even though I'm old, but for mom I'm still a kid. My mother always cares for me as a child. The memories will stay with me until I close my eyes from earth. The key words I remembered unforgettably about the honest heart of my mother to my father such as: Your father was not only a husband but also he was my teacher and the goodwill of our family. You know, because he wanted to help my poor family, he was a child in a rich family, rather let his parents cut him off. because his parents were not satisfied with me who was a daughter in a poor family, not pretty and also broken one leg. He's got married to me, and he's telling me that for you, I love you. He did good not only for me, but for our whole family. So, this birth, since your dad has died, I don't let another man pass me the second time, and every next birth if I could not meet your dad, I wish I was single. My mother had lived as a widow since I was six years old until her death. For me, my mother was a model woman in the world. Since I had been born until my mother passed away, I had never seen her tears, she never let her son and daughter see her tears even once, even when her lovely husband passed away. she was illiterate. But she was a family pole, In the name of a senior in a family which has nine siblings. In this birth, I saw my mother's tears only once is at her last breath that my mother left the world forever. Amazingly, there was not a lot of tears at all. It was a drop of tear dabbed a bit at the end of an eye and then left forever. I remember this traumatic story never disappear a bit from my heart. At that last chance, My benefactor bled for a third time. She was almost unconscious for almost half a month. The chaplain praises every day because the doctor told it's hopeless.

During that time, the layman (Buddhist) often said that, "I think that your mother is upset about you. Your mother is very strong. I believe that even though her appearance looks unconscious, she still can hear you. You should try to whisper in her ear telling her to leave well. Take a look at her situation the doctor said that, "The blood vessels were all cut in the brain." no more hope until now almost a half month. Today you can see there's some pus from her pupil this shows that the blood vessels were all cut, even the blood for nurturing the eyes, but your mother's feeling is very strong I believe that she can hear you. You go to tell her to go. Don't keep her hard any longer. I think that she's waiting to hear from you, please try." I really remembered that traumatic story unforgettably; My tears fell a lot I grasped my mother's hands with my both hands and whisper in her ear that, "Please, mom go well. I wish I could meet you to serve you every next birth if I did something wrong to you please, forgive me." my tears fell a lot. I never think my speaking can be heard to her. at that time I saw a drop of tear fell down from my mother's eye I called my relatives "Oh mom can hear me." my relatives came around my mother's bed. It was really her ultimate chance. She was really waiting to hear my voice. Her last tear fell a bit more and the she turned her neck a bit hard and she passed away. That was the first and final

tear of a model woman in my heart.”

Education

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Veasna graduated with a bachelor of law degree at the Royal University of Law and Economics in 1997

• 1979–1986: a student.
• 1986–1993: a student at The Department of Media and Communication (RUPP) (The Ministry of Information)
• 1994–1997: a law student at the Royal University of Law and Economics
• 1998–2006: a public officer at the Department of Political Affairs (The Ministry of Interior)
• 1998 – 15 July 2005: a member of the Sam Rainsy Party
• 2003 – 28 February 2006: a representative for Prey Veng Province

In 1994, he enrolled for his Bachelor of Law at the Royal University of Law and Economics (RULE), and he graduated in 1997. He had been appointed as the generational president during the four years of study, tasked with students affairs. Coincidentally, his generation was the last for graduates to become a civil servant without examination; that’s why Veasna was listed as a civil servant for 6 years at the Ministry of Interior until 2004, but he added that during that time he'd never gone to work. He suspended his account.

On 8 March 2017, Veasna wrote about his study as follow:

“I remember the last year was the 4th year. I almost quit studying going to Malaysia to get Products sold just for money to spend and help family.

I started getting lazy for study and hated school. I thought I don't know learning for what? I preferred business but I still a bit wanted to get a degree. I come to study very little; spending much time to Malaysia bringing Konika and Kodak films to sell in Cambodia.

One week sometime I went two times one time earned $400 to $500.

I know clearly about the flavor of tax evader, feeling hated those who worked at Po Chen Tong too much and also those who were Kilo sellers working for Airline compary. oppressed almost no earning. the fourth year was the year I study worst. I rented a man to do thesis for me. My degree is not fit to me because I went to study very little 1998 - 1998.”

In politics: 1998–present

File:Veasna pre veng.jpg

Veasna speaking at public forum in Prey Veng Province when he was a member of the Sam Rainsy Party

Veasna when he was a member of the Sam Rainsy Party

In his engagement as a politician, initially, Veasna was a member of the Sam Rainsy Party, listed as a nominee since 1998 but not elected. Later, in 2003 he was elected as a representative for Prey Veng Province. As a representative of the Samrainsy Party, he held two offices, one in Ba Phnum District and another in Me Sang District. At that time he was 38 years old, He had started doing politics since before 1998, but he started understanding how to do it in the middle of second term. Later, in 2005 he formed a political party called the League for Democracy Party. The party has been steadily growing since it was founded in 2005 and is standing for 2017 election in 844 communes – more than half of the Kingdom’s total 1,646.

Veasna was also a radio caller, his name was Sameth, saying:

"Brothers and sisters, I feel nostalgic; at that time I observed that every party does politics only to deceive

people; at that time on 93.5 FM my name was Sameth I phoned to criticize the Sam Rainsy Party everyday until they rejected my calling again and again. those who listened to 93.5 FM in that generation

know me clearly my name was Sameth."

He revealed his motives for entry into politics with an unclear mind, and he just wanted to be powerful like the people who were taking office, so he decided to get involved in politics. Gradually, he started understanding how to do politics, and researched on how to deal with domestic and international politics, based on documents and international news.

Later, he became immersed deeper in politics, and the practical work did teach him to be sensitive to others, loving justice and righteousness. He joined the Sam Rainsy Party and saw that the party did not embrace righteousness. It was corrupt and nepotistic, while the supporters were not aware of the party internal affairs. Internally, they talked of one thing, and externally, they talked of another. Thus, his conflicts with the party took place one after another until the party leader became aware of him and tried to invent a pretext to expel him from the party. Subsequently, he was later dismissed from the party under the pretext that they had invented (attacking the king who is protected by the constitution). Possessing different opinions and character and with a racial sentiment, he was divided with the party just like oil and water which never blend. He highlighted his feeling on the day, he last walked out of the National Assembly that it was just like he lit a candle to brighten up the dark sprawling Sahara Desert. He knew it alone, but could not find someone to share.

Argument in the Sam Rainsy Party

The motive he wanted to be a politician, he said that initially, he didn't think he took part in politics for anything and it was not clear, just wanted to be a noble because they entered the public job, also wanted to be like them. Sooner or later, he grew gradually with politics for a long time to work on his own pitch. Because of careful heart for others and the love of justice, accuracy, when he joined the Sam Rainsy Party for a period of time he found no accuracy, corruption, factions and people didn't know the inside of the party. Because outside the party they speak differently and inside the party they speak differently, so the conflicts often occurred and it was heard to the president of the party then they find the way to take him out until they used his words "King's shit also smells bad" as an excuse to take him out the party. But it did not matter the king did not care about this, until he signed out himself. From one step to another step Veasna also understood about how to do politics, and then he started researching about how to do politics outside the country, according to some documents and international news he also understood some more.

SRP Lawmaker Allegedly Blasts Royal Family
“What I have said was not attacking any King,” he said. “It’s unjust that one corner of my words was used when the whole meaning was not. If people listened through they will understand what I mean. It was not any attack but just history.”

The League for Democracy Party 2006–present

Veasna delivering a speech at the first LDP congress in 2011

Veasna delivering a speech at central headquarter in Phnom Penh City during the campaign on july, 2013

On 15 July 2005, the League For Democracy Party (LDP) was formed. It was registered and officially recognized by the announcement of the Ministry of Interior No.792 Pr. K. Dated 26 June 2006.

In the name of the party president for 7 years, Veasna noted that a sign that he started understanding politics was that he saw his Sam Rainsy Party always take issue as a solution whenever they meet people they always talk about problems. He felt that why politicians do not talk about how to solve problems of the nation that is their views, how to deal, and each platform they tell and require the people to vote for them without telling the measures that is how to deal. He then noted that "A politician is the one who has forward views". and A politician who only talks about problems is not enough to become a politician. Later, after seeing all the political parties are not good, therefor he left the Sam Rainsy Party to form a political party like his own views. .

File:Veasna 12.jpg

Veasna speaking at public forum in countryside

Nowadays, he saw politicians in each political party using vulgarities to insult another party. So in Cambodia, he couldn't find any obvious politician because he distinguished himself. Cambodia has to be solved by this way, this time not along perfectly, but also find another way to do the same understanding. But the politicians are not that vulgar against each other. When giving personal interests, they come to join that party, because politics is a lengthy process.

"We explain to the candidates that politics is not a business, you know," Veasna said. "We don't choose candidates who join politics because they want to get a high profile or want to be famous. Politics is not that. If charity to the people is your political view, and you don’t want anything from politics, then you come here."

"For other parties, they focus on how to get ballots, but for the LDP, we focus on accuracy, for ballots we don't care. If the accuracy could not absorb the supports from the people, we don't know another way to do, only deception is possible, but we can't do that because it's not in accordance with our conscience. So we can't. therefor, we made a political party." He said.

According to the past election results seems like getting nothing, he still continues by explaining that he knew it was not a time quickly because people need time and he knew it must be like that, he had already thought. After seeing it had been a long time, he thought that nothing strange. He thought that at the end this movement would be succeeful but at that time, there would be his presence or not, it was another issue, but he believed that honest policy would absorb the support from the people a lot. Until now the commune councils of this party have 8 communes. 7 in Siem Reap Province and 1 in Oddar Meanchey Province. And in a month there are more and more ordinary people join to donate for the party.

The expenditure of the League for Democracy Party is from the people who listened to the radio and most of their members are youth. They come to donate at least 1,000 riels and some other people donate monthly. No pressure for them whether they want to keep paying or stop, it's up to them. This is a new political ideology because doing politics is not to win alone but for all the people win.

Personal story in relation to the League for Democracy Party

Veasna with Toyota in 2008

Since the inception of the League for Democracy Party, at the first scene, the entire expenditure was his burden, such as: radio fee, rental fee of the headquarters, administrative process in the central headquarter and expenses on forums in provinces, including travel fee and food cost, which he spent at least $5,000 per month.

His close team members revealed that he sometimes became indebted due to the enormous expenses. Some days, he almost has no money in his pocket to afford a package of instant noodles, but he rarely exposed this to his work team or his supporters to know. Some nights, he stays up due to his debts.

Therefor, he defined the word "Politics" as the work of philanthropists. For him, he tries to make money for politics due to repeated financial shortages since the party's establishment. He has thought of any business that would help generate income for the party. He started to invest in some businesses that were likely to be successful.

Business career

Veasna with Supermix colleagues

He first began investing in breeding pigs in Takeo Province and invested in growing aromatic coconut in Uddar Meanchey Province. Later, he built a chicken coop and dug a fish pond in Battambang Province. After that, he went to do agriculture growing rice in Kampong Thom province and plowed the field to grow potato plants in Siem Reap province. Prolonged for a while, not turning out of agriculture, he went on selling fertilizers. Nowadays, he continues to think of what cash crops to grow which will help cover the sundry expense of the party. More than this, he imported health products from abroad as well.

Expenditure and business

Although Veasna has never thought of buying a house for himself at all, even when he can afford to do so, in contrast, he thinks of buying a plot of land around Phnom Penh to build the party headquarter. This is because he wanted to avoid expenditure on renting the current headquarter. He wants to prepare the administrative structure of the headquarter for it to have a meeting hall and some space for forums and sundry events.

The answer for the question where is he live? we can say shortly his house is where the party headquarter is.

This is the third car which he uses for either his trip to provincial forums nor his personal use. At first, he used an unlicensed ride side drive Mazda pick-up truck. The old car frequently broke down making him often sleep along the road and sometimes the public forum needed to be cancelled.

A long time passed, some supporters started the idea of buying him a new car for him to ease his travel and to ensure his safety. For the new car, which may be a question for supporters, they eventually realized that, for the money that they had given, he had re-directed it into the radio funds for radio broadcasting.

They were still worried about his safety. That’s why there was another fund-raising from the supporters and his personal money, a second-hand Nissan Fanta pick-up truck was purchased to substitute his old car. Later, about over one month before the 2013 National Assembly Elections (5th term), he decided to buy a new car Mazda pick-up truck.

Further reading

• Goodreads.com The speech of Khem Veasna The first congress of the League for Democracy Party (06-11-2011).

External links

Official

• camldp.org Official website
• khemveasna.com Official website

Other

• League for Democracy Party holds congress in 2016
• Lawmaker Suspended for Royal Slur
• Funcinpec Blasts Opposition Lawmaker for Slur
• Khem Veasna Quotes
• Khem Veasna's Speech
• Cambodian politicians biography
• Youth a Third of Voters, but Young Candidates Remain Rarel
• Foreigner Meeting