By Tenzin Monlam
DHARAMSHALA, July 16: A renowned Tibetan Buddhist leader and abbot of Jhapa Monastery in Kham Nangchen region, who was arrested two years ago, has been released.
He was originally sentenced to two and a half years’ imprisonment by a Chinese court in Chamdo in October 2014. He was arrested on December 6, 2013 in Chengdu where he had traveled with regard to a purchase of a new idol for his monastery.
Following the abbot’s arrest, hundreds of monks and lay people in Nangchen walked with placards and banners demanding the release of the abbot. “Please look at the anguish of students separated from their teacher,” read a banner carried by the monks.
The Chinese authorities on December 21, 2013 detained sixteen Tibetans including monks, who were involved in the protest on December 18 demanding the release of the abbot. They were all taken away to Yushu County Center.
Tibetan NGOs and Amnesty International have initiated campaigns for the release for 17 Tibetans including Khenpo Kartse. The global rights watchdog had also appealed the international community to write to the Director of Tibet Autonomous Region Public Security Bureau to release Khenpo Kartse and the Tibetans.
