According to a TCHRD information source, two monks from Labrang Tashikyil Monastery, situated in Sangchu County, Kanlho "Tibet Autonomous Prefecture" ("TAP"), Gansu Province, were arrested on 11 April 2003. Local Public Security Bureau (PSB) officers conducted extensive raid in the monks' room leading to discovery of booklets containing speeches of the Dalai Lama. The whereabouts of Kunchok Choephel Labrang, in his late thirties, is unknown. The other monk, Jigme Jamtruk, 39 years old, was released on bail after 13 days' of detention.

It is reported that both the monks have had a record of involvement in "political" activities, once initiated together in 1990 and another separately in 1995.The monks were detained in Sangchu PSB Detention Centre and confined in separate cells. Jigme was able to secure release owing to the fact that he is a former executive member of the Democratic Management Committee (DMC) of Labrang Tashikyil Monastery.

The informant, on conditions of anonymity, said, "Kunchok's kith and kin are simple nomads. They have inquired the PSB office concerning his reason for arrest and whereabouts. Not only did they refuse to acknowledge his detention, the officers said that if he was arrested, it could be due to his earlier activities. The family fears that Kunchok might be handed a death sentence like Trulku Tenzin Delek or executed like Lobsang Dhondup. Prior to the arrest, Kunchok had a frail health. Additionally, due to the common practice of torture and beatings meted out to political detainees, it is hard to say if Kunchok has survived."

In June 1990, Kunchok and Jigme played a leading role in mobilising mass public protest against a Chinese journalist for his erroneous interpretation of the six-worded holy buddhist mantra in praise of Chenrigsig (Avalokiteshwara), the Buddha of Compassion. According to Zhou Lou, the journalist, mani (literally meaning gem in Sanskrit) is symbolic of male organ and padme (lotus) of female organ in the Buddhist tantra, thereby hurting the religious sensibilities of the Tibetans. Since the protest, both the monks came under heavy suspicion and scrutiny.

The PSB officers from Sangchu County arrested Kunchok for the second time on 10 May 1995 on suspicions of engaging in political activities. He was detained for three months at Mengar Detention Centre in Sangchu County, and suffered torture resulting in his current frail health Jigme, for his involvement in poster pasting and written sloganeering activities, was arrested for the second time on 19 May 1995. The posters contained slogans such as " Exile Tibetans are organising Peace March into Tibet. Stand up, Tibetans!" Kanlho Intermediate People's Court sentenced him to two years' imprisonment and one- year deprivation of political rights on charges of "inciting counter revolutionary propaganda".

Kunchok is originally from Sangko Ngulra Village, Sangchu County and Jigme from Ngulra Village, Machu County. Both the monks joined Labrang Tashikyil Monastery at a very young age.