The executive director of the Khmer Kampuchea Krom Association has asked Foreign Affairs Minister Hor Namhong to intervene on behalf of two Khmer Krom monks he says are missing after they and three others were arrested by Vietnamese authorities last Thursday.

In a letter to Namhong, Sam Rainsy Party Senator Thach Setha says Vietnamese authorities accused the two monks and three laymen of spying on Vietnam for the Khmer Kampuchea Krom Association and forced the monks to defrock.

One of the monks and the laymen were released the same day, after the monk, Ly Chenda, was badly beaten, says Setha. Setha believes the other monk is still being detained.

Vietnamese embassy spokesman Le Minh Ngoc and Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Koy Kuong could not be reached.