By Choekyi Lhamo
DHARAMSHALA, May 17: The exile Tibetan community marked the 26th anniversary of the 11th Panchen Lama enforced disappearance on Monday, urging countries and international community to build alliance for the release of the second highest spiritual leader of Tibet and his family. Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was abducted by the Chinese government at the age of 6 on May 17, 1995, three days after the exiled leader Dalai Lama recognized the child as the reincarnation of the Panchen Lama.
The 16th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile (TPiE) released a statement today, calling for an immediate release of the religious leader, and appealed to world governments to intervene against the enforced disappearance. The statement noted the importance of historical relationship between both the Dalai Lamas and Panchen Lamas, “For hundreds of years, these two leaders have been the head ornaments of the entirety of the Tibetan people until the time their whole national territory came under the armed occupation rule of communist China.”
The incumbent President Lobsang Sangay and his Kashag (Cabinet) also called for an independent body to visit and ascertain the conditions and whereabouts of the legitimate Panchen Lama, “China, despite being a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and ironically, the most recent member of the United Nations Human Rights Council, continue to infringe the laws and the very purpose and founding values of the United Nations. If there is an ounce of truth in the hollow claims of the Chinese government, then it must present verifiable proof of the wellbeing of the Panchen Lama, his family and Chadrel Rinpoche through its official media outlets.” The Central Tibetan Administration on Saturday published a book titled, “Tibet’s Stolen Child: Remembering the Story of the 11th Panchen Lama Gedhun Choekyi Nyima”.
The Panchen Lama’s 32th birthday was also observed by the Tibetans last month as calls were made to the Chinese government to give out information on the disappearance case. The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) launched a video campaign consisting of journalists, researchers and activists to call on the Chinese government for an immediate response. “The campaign reminds the Chinese government that advocacy actions for Panchen Lama’s release will continue until the Panchen Lama is released and his human rights restored,” the human rights group stated.
On April 25, the Sikyong-elect Penpa Tsering in a webinar discussion stated the importance of Tibetans choosing their own religious leaders, “[China] has even refused to give any solid evidence about his physical safety or to prove that young Panchen Lama is still alive. But even if he is alive, then it is clear that he has been denied the real Buddhist education, thereby incapacitating him from fulfilling his religious responsibilities as Panchen Lama.”
Last year, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said that Gedhun Choekyi Nyima “received free compulsory education when he was a child, passed the college entrance examination and now has a job.” The Beijing spokesperson further added that the 31-year-old and his family do not wish to be disturbed.
The Beijing minister should let the family answer for themselves.