DHARAMSHALA: Two senior religious figures were arrested in Nangchen county in Yushul prefecture (China’s Qinghai Province), a new report coming out of Tibet say that Chinese authorities target spiritual figures who advocate the preservation and promotion of Tibetan culture and religion.

The Chinese authorities arrested the two abbots, Kartse and Tsultrim Gyurmey. The two were released after the local Tibetans held massive protest against their arbitrary arrest.

Kartse was arrested during a night raid in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, on 6 December. He was in the city for some work related to the monastery.

“Hearing about his arrest by Chinese authorities in Chengdu, over 4000 people from 30 townships protested in front of the local administrative office, demanding his release,” a source said.

“The Tibetan protesters threatened the Chinese authorities that if they do not release Khenpo Kartse, they would resort to drastic forms of protests including sacrificing their lives. Under pressure from the Tibetan protesters, Khenpo Kartse was finally released from detention,” the source added.

In a separate incident, Khenpo Tsultrim Gyurmey from Tanak monastery in Nangchen county was arrested by Chinese authorities on 29 November. He was accused of disrupting social order after he called for the need to preserve Tibetan religion and culture, including upholding the ancient ethics of Tibet during the Kagyu Monlam (prayer congregation) for world peace in Tibet.

His arrest sparked a number of protests by the monks of Tanak monastery and other lay Tibetans in the area. The protesters appealed to the local administrative office in Yushul prefecture demanding his immediate release. The Chinese authorities finally released Khenpo Tsultrim Gyurmey a few days after his arrest. His release came under the condition that he report himself to the police station for regular political indoctrination classes from provincial and county authorities.