The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: A resource from Tibet said, a Tibetan religious festival (Sagadawa) was celebrated in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet on 7th June,  on this day Lord Buddha Sakyamuni was born, reached enlightenment, and died.  On this day of 2009  His Holiness the Dalai Lama receive citizenship to  the French capital Paris, yet another coincidence that proved to much to take for Chinese security forces.

A peaceful procession of 200 Tibetan worshipers visited Jokhang temple in the center of the Tibetan capital Lhasa, to perform religious rituals, and made prayer offerings to the gods and donations to the poor.  The pilgrims were interrupted and some were taken into custody by Chinese forces who were alarmed, and possibly terrified, by the day that commemorates peace and Buddha’s contribution to the world.

Proceeding from Jokhang temple the worshipers moved to Potola palace to perform religious rights. The group of 200 intended to reach Nechung monastery to pray to the Nechung , but those prayers were never uttered; Chinese security forces exerted their militaristic power over the holy procession and made arrests.

6 individuals from Eastern Tibet were arrested and interrogated, Pedor, Phurpa. Dolkyab, Dorjee Tsering, Pema Drime, all from Dege county, eastern Tibet.  Thuppa from Nangchen county eastern Tibet was also arrested. Tibetans who demanded the Chinese authorities to release the arrested, waited till 8.pm. but there was no response from the authorities.  Those demanding the release of the Tibetans warned the Chinese that if their sisters and brothers will not be released, a mass demonstration would insure. 

Since March 2008 over 220 Tibetans have been killed, 1,294 injured and 290 sentenced, more than 5,600 were arrested or detained and over 1,000 disappeared after the Chinese armed military deadly cracked down in all parts of Tibet.