Who started the Khmer Anti-Poverty Party? When was it started?

The party was started on July 4, 2007 by a group of Cambodians living in America, Cambodians living in Cambodia, and a group of American supporters all dedicated to improving the lives of Cambodian people.

Why do you emphasize poverty?

Poverty causes suffering and destroys human life, human spirit and human potential.

What does the logo mean?

The tree represents life. Trees provide food and oxygen which are essential to human life. Trees provide a home for animals. With the replanting of the trees, we will restore our land to its original beauty. The mountain represents stability and grandeur.

What does the Khmer Anti-Poverty Party Believe?

Human life is valuable
Peace and justice are essential
Cambodian resources belong to all Cambodians
Cambodians deserve to have a life where their basic needs are met
Cambodians are good and have a beautiful heart and deserve a good life
The rule of law should be practiced to bring back civility
Cambodians have a right to self-determination

How is the Khmer Anti-Poverty Party different from other parties?

Its leader, Daran Kravanh, is a humanitarian who has dedicated his life to serving youth and the poor. The ideas of party have joined the best of American ideals with the best of Cambodia to create something new and fresh. The party is transparent. Those dedicated to the party are working without financial compensation.

What are the priorities of their platform?

Land protection, economic development, rural development, youth development, medical care clean water, and elimination of corruption.

Is ending poverty a realistic goal?

Some have criticized the Khmer Anti-Poverty Party, saying that to reach their goal of ending poverty in Cambodia is unrealistic. This is what we say:

Poverty was not invented by God. It was invented by man. This is a truth spoken by Mother Theresa and known by many, including economists, government officials, and people with common sense.

Poverty is not something new, nor is Cambodia the only country that has ever been plagued by poverty. The elimination of poverty happens when government officials make ending poverty a priority, and don’t line their own pockets with the wealth of the nation.

One can look at the example of the country of Chile. In 1973 General Augusto Pinochet had led a military coup and was ruling the country with intimidation, murder and torture. People were living in terrible poverty. The only things for sale were luxury goods bought by the rich.

But in 1989, the people became brave enough to vote General Pinochet out of office. The Christian Democratic Party took over and created an atmosphere of freedom. They promoted free markets and gave real help to small business people. They helped with new product development, technical training, advising, marketing, labor training, and natural resource development. They also used experts to give assistance to ordinary people. The people began to sell things ordinary people could buy. In eleven years the per capita income grew by 88%. Today, Chile has further to go, but the poverty has been significantly reduced and it is no longer considered a poor country.

The Khmer Anti-Poverty Party is not trying to make the sun come up in the west and set in the east. We only want to use the knowledge and the proven ways the world already has to lift people out of poverty to live a life of dignity. Cambodian people deserve that.