A monk and scholar Dr Hema Goonatilake defend the protests

According to reports, denied by the government, at least one has been killed as authorities cracked down on opposition activists demonstrating against alleged electoral fraud.

During the run-up to the July elections, monks regularly gave ceremonial blessings at rallies of all political persuasions.

Around 95% of the population is Buddhist and monks have been particularly active in the recent anti-government demonstrations.

Monks come under fire from a water cannon

But the use of violence against the Buddhist clergy has shocked many Cambodians, including King Norodom Sihanouk.

Now many monks are afraid to venture on to the streets and, according to reports, some monks have received death threats.

A number of monks are also reported to have disappeared. "We believe there is something behind their disappearance because their families have not heard from them," one monk is quoted as saying.

Under the law, monks are not allowed to rally on behalf of any political party - though they can become party members and vote.

Some monks have reportedly received death threats

But many monks defend their right to demonstrate. Reports of monks being shot and beaten by police during demonstrations has led others to take to the streets and protest.

"Buddhist monks are highly venerated by the people of Cambodia" said one.

"When the people of Cambodia are in the state of sadness and worry, we always give our support for them - we never run away from them.''

"The reason why monks join the demonstration," said another, "is because monks see our armed forces acting very cruelly to our innocent Khmer people who do not have any weapons in their hands".

Buddha said monks should protest

Dr Hema Goonatilake, an academic at the Phnom Penh Buddhist Institute, said the attacks on monks - symbols of non-violence - had shocked many. But she says they have every right protest.

"The Buddha himself had taught that the monks should take action whenever they see inequality, lack of democracy, poverty," she said.

Many monks are now afraid to go out

Under the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime during the 1970s thousands of Buddhist clergy were killed.

When order was restored in 1979, there were few educated Buddhist leaders left to guide a younger generation.

Sok Pin, deputy director of religious affairs at the Ministry of Cults and Religion, believes that is why many monks have become activists on the streets.

"Today, people who become monks don't have much education." he said. "So when they become leaders, they are not good at leading other monks to correctly obey Buddhist discipline."

Un Sum, deputy head of the government-controlled Buddhist hierarchy, is critical of the monks taking part in the protests, saying such political activity is against the laws of Buddhism.

If the government wants to keep monks out of politics in the future, without resorting to more draconian measures, it may have to banish monks from the political arena altogether.