Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, May 17: Activist group, the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress Dharamshala, marked 30 years since the abduction of the 11th Panchen Lama by the Chinese Communist Party on Saturday. The NGO renewed its call for the immediate release of the Panchen Lama and full disclosure of his whereabouts, condemning China’s installation of a fake Panchen Lama, accusing Beijing of using him to echo Chinese Communist Party propaganda.
Speaking to Phayul, Tibetan writer and activist Tenzin Tsundue remarked, “The fact that China is keeping the Panchen Lama under Chinese control for all these years is a fact to prove the real importance of the Panchen Lama, Gendun Choekyi Nyima. China is scheming to make use of Gendun Choekyi Nyima in recognising the future 15th Dalai Lama, and His Holiness the Dalai Lama has said already and declared in his latest book that his reincarnation would be born in a free world, and therefore all China’s scheme has fallen flat. It is important for all of us to continue to campaign for Panchen Lama’s release and for his safety, at the same time, assert our political right over Tibet’s independence and the freedom of Tibet.”
Sonam Tsering, Secretary of the Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC), emphasized the need for a strategic shift in advocacy efforts. “For three decades, TYC and other Tibetan non-governmental organizations have been tirelessly campaigning for the release and whereabouts of the 11th Panchen Lama. Despite repeated appeals, China has remained silent. While we have consistently urged the international community to take a stand, it is clear that continuing along the same advocacy path has yielded little progress in the past 30 years. This is not to say that our efforts have been in vain. The global human rights organizations are well aware of this and they should apply pressure on China. While it is imperative that we continue our campaigns, but with new and strategic forms of advocacy. We must persist in calling on the international community to demand China release the Panchen Lama and provide verifiable information on his well-being and whereabouts.”
Grassroots activist group, the Tibetan Women’s Association, in collaboration with organizations representing Tibet’s three traditional provinces, organized a bike rally on May 17 to mark the 30th anniversary of the Panchen Lama’s abduction. The coalition has issued urgent calls to the UN, international leaders, and human rights organizations to investigate his whereabouts, secure his immediate release along with all Tibetan political prisoners, and press for genuine dialogue between Sino-Tibetan representatives. They vowed to continue their advocacy until the now 36-year-old spiritual leader is returned to his rightful place at Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in Shigatse, Tibet.
The head of the exile Tibetan leadership, President Penpa Tsering of the exile Tibetan government, known officially as the Central Tibetan Administration, issued a statement condemning China’s enforced disappearance of the Panchen Lama. “Today marks a solemn commemoration—30 years since the Chinese government abducted the 11th Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima. His continued disappearance is one of the most blatant violations of religious freedom in our time. Despite Beijing’s attempts to erase his identity, Tibetans across the world continue to speak his name, uphold their faith in him, and demand justice,” he stated.
“I call upon the international community to renew its efforts to press for his immediate release. We offer our prayers for his freedom and reaffirm our unwavering commitment to seeing him restored to his rightful, legitimate role.”
The 11th Panchen Lama, Gendun Choekyi Nyima, revered as one of the eminent spiritual figures in Tibetan Buddhism, was officially recognised by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama in 1995 when he was just six years old. However, shortly after his recognition, on May 17, 1995, the Chinese Communist Party forcefully abducted him and his family into state custody, making him the world’s youngest political prisoner. Since then, the disappearance of the 11th Panchen Lama has remained a grave concern for the Tibetan administration in exile, as well as various Tibetan advocacy groups and non-governmental organisations in exile, which have persistently campaigned for transparency regarding his health and current whereabouts.
In April 2022, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian reiterated previous claims from 2020 regarding Gedhun Choekyi Nyima. Zhao stated that Gedhun received compulsory education as a child, successfully passed college entrance examinations, and is now employed. According to Zhao, Gedhun and his family desire privacy and wish to maintain their current lifestyle without disturbance. However, the Chinese government has not offered any additional statements or evidence concerning the whereabouts or well-being of the 11th Panchen Lama since then.
