Dharamsala: May 17, 2022 will mark 27 years since the enforced disappearance of the 11th Panchen Lama of Tibet.
On 17 May 1995, when he was only six years old, the Panchen Lama was abducted by the Chinese Communist government along with his family after His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama recognized him as the reincarnation of the 10th Panchen Lama. Since that fateful day, Buddhists around the world and Tibetans in exile and especially in Tibet, have been living in hope that one day we will be able to receive blessings from the Panchen Lama.
Tibetan organisations across the world are holding programs to mark the day. TCHRD is holding a webinar on Facebook to mark the 27th anniversary of the enforced disappearance of the 11th Panchen Lama of Tibet. Regional Tibetan Youth Congress, and Regional Tibetan Women’s Association, Mundgod organised 'Bike Rally for Panchen Lama' to raise awareness about his situation, the condition of Tibetans living under the hard-line policies of the Chinese government and to show our solidarity to our brothers and sisters inside Tibet.
On May 15, 2022, Regional Tibetan Youth Congress (RTYC), and Regional Tibetan Women’s Association, Mundgod organised a 'Bike Rally for Panchen Lama' from Mundgod Tibetan Settlement and to Bangalore city with three demands: demand China to give evidence that the 11' Panchen Lama is alive, urge China to address the demands of the self-immolations in Tibet, and demand China for the unconditional release of all political prisoners in Tibet.
“In 1995, His Holiness the Dalai Lama recognized a young boy, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, as the 11' Panchen Lama. The Panchen Lama is the second-highest lama in Tibetan Buddhism, second only to the Dalai Lama. And like the Dalai Lama, the Panchen Lama has been tragically impacted by China's subjugation of Tibet,” said the statement of RTYC Mundgod.
“On May 17, 1995, Chinese authorities abducted Gedhun Choekyi Nima and his family. He was just six-years old and became the world's youngest prisoner. Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the 11' Panchen Lama, and his family have been missing since 1995. He remains missing. Tibetans, Tibet supporters, human rights organisations and world governments have consistently urged China to release Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, but these appeals continue to go unheeded,” it continues.
“After repeated attempts to gain access to the boy, no international agencies or human rights organisations (including the United Nations) have been allowed to visit Gedun Choekyi Nima or his family, and their condition remains uncertain. In an attempt to establish their authority over all "internal affairs" of China (political or otherwise) the Chinese leadership nominated and selected their own 11' Panchen Lama in November 1995. Their selection of six-year-old boy named Gyaltsen Norbu, is another young victim in China's plan to undermine and control the Tibetan people, their faith, religion, and their nation,” they added.
“We seek accurate information about Gedhun Choekyi Nima's whereabouts and wellbeing and we urge the United Nations as well as governments of the world to pressure the Chinese government to show us concrete evidence that Panchen Lama is indeed alive and well,” RTYC concluded.
Information supplied by Tibet Post
By Team TRC