Dawa, a native of Tawu County in Kardze (Karze), Sichuan Province, was arrested in June 1999 in connection with a poster campaign that emerged in the area in August 1998. The posters, displayed in public locations across Tawu County, carried slogans such as “Independence of Tibet” and “Chinese quit Tibet.”

Although no public evidence was disclosed, authorities suspected Dawa of involvement in the distribution of these materials, leading to his detention.