On March 9, 2018, the New Mandala at the Australian National University, with support from the Tifa Foundation, hosted a discussion titled “Cambodia on the Brink” in Canberra, Australia. The forum, which brought together scholars, political leaders, and members of civil society, addressed the challenges to democracy currently facing Cambodia under Prime Minister Hun Sen’s regime and explored possible paths forward for the country.

During one of the panel discussions, speakers discussed how civil society organizations and the media are adapting to the growing authoritarianism in Cambodia, particularly in light of the shrinking political space and the dissolution of the opposition party, the Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP).

The discussion featured Preap Kol from Transparency International Cambodia; Julia Wallace, a journalist; Billy Chia-Lung Tai, a human rights consultant; and Associate Professor Sango Mahanty from the Australian National University, who moderated the discussion.

So, what is the scope of civil society’s action amid the growing authoritarianism in Cambodia? And how is the media—as the fourth pillar of democracy—adapting to the current political climate? You can listen to this discussion via the audio recording available on New Mandala’s SoundCloud page at this link.