Ethnic khmers from Vietnam seek asylum in Cambodia
A group of 67 ethnic Khmer from Vietnam are attempting to seek asylum with the United Nations refugee agency in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh.
At least 24 Buddhist monks are said to be among the group gathered at the UNHCR office in the city.
They arrived at the building after being ordered to leave a pagoda near Phnom Penh, where they had been granted shelter.
A spokesman for the group says they were forced to leave Vietnam after suffering persecution from the authorities.
The UNHCR says most of the group have been officially recognised as asylum-seekers, but that the process of deciding on their refugee status has yet to be finalised.
The refugee agency also says the group is to be allowed to return to the pagoda.
The asylum-seekers come from a part of southern Vietnam comprising the Mekong Delta.
Their region, home to about 12 million ethnic Khmers, was incorporated into what is now Vietnam 56 years ago.
ABC Radio Australia - August 03, 2005.
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