Khmer asylum seekers's Cambodia complaints

Nearly two dozen asylum seekers deported by Thailand to Cambodia more than 10 days ago are complaining of a lack food and harsh living conditions.

They are part of a group of 56 ethnic Khmers who fled southern Vietnam for Thailand between six months and six years ago.

The Phnom Penh Post says the rest of the Khmer Krom have now left the border area to seek shelter from friends and relatives in Cambodia.

But the remaining 23 deportees say they have no family in the country, and are surviving on charity outside the border town of Poipet.

Several members of the group have told the Post what they fear most is repatriation to Vietnam, where Khmer Krom say they face restrictions of freedom of expression and religion.