DHARAMSHALA, June 8: Two Tibetans have been arrested in Machu County for planning a horse race event to mark the 80th birthday of the exiled Tibetan Spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, reported the Voice of Tibet radio.
Tibetans, both inside Tibet and those in exile, have several events lined up to dedicate to their leader even as Chinese government has already stepped up its restriction to prevent any large gatherings of Tibetans.
Jamyang and an unidentified Tibetan have been arrested on June 5 after leaflets and posters of the event started being circulated and seen around the county. The Chinese authorities have arrested the two on suspicion of being the men responsible for organizing the event.
The authorities issued strict orders banning all public gatherings on the venue of the horse race. Local Tibetans say that they saw heavy deployment of Chinese security forces including police around the venue.
The authorities have also banned all sorts of events to save lives of animals to mark the 80th grand birthday of the Dalai Lama who is reviled by the Chinese government as a “splittist”.
The horse race was to be held between June 10 and June 13, during which competitors will fight for a total prize money of over 70000 Yuan.
