2017’s political crackdown ousted more than 5,000 opposition commune councilors from their elected seats. Now with less than a year until the next commune elections, two former CNRP commune chiefs speak of the desolation of the current opposition landscape.

Elections are set to return to Cambodia in June next year, but the country’s political landscape remains shattered and largely lifeless. In part one, Ouch Sony speaks to several minor party leaders about the daunting task of trying to build up a political movement from nothing.