CTA LAUNCHES MONTH-LONG GLOBAL ADVOCACY TO AMPLIFY CALL FOR 11TH PANCHEN LAMA’S RELEASE

Dharamshala: The 11th Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the second-highest spiritual figure in Tibetan Buddhism who has been missing since the age of six turns 31 today. He was abducted along with the rest of his family by the Chinese government on 17 May 1995, three days after he was recognised as the incarnation of the 10th Panchen Lama by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the 11th Panchen Lama turns 31 today. As the legitimate representative of the six million Tibetans, the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) launches a month-long global advocacy initiative through its Offices of Tibet. This global advocacy will be carried out from 25 April, the birthday of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, through 17 May, marking the 25th year of his enforced disappearance.
“Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the 11th Panchen Lama Held captive for the last 25 years by the Chinese authorities, Panchen Gedhun Choekyi Nyima’s birthday will be marked in grief and concerns, just as each year. Tibetans around the world will reminisce the day with sorrow at the unknown fate of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, his parents and Chadrel Rinpoche who led the search committee for the 11th Panchen Lama,”said spokes person of CTA in Dharamshala, North India.
With the whole world spread under the jurisdiction of the 12 Offices of Tibet, the CTA aims to amplify the call for Gedhun Choekyi Nyima’s release and for China to disclose verifiable information on his current well-being and whereabouts.
CTA President Dr Lobsang Sangay remarked, “As we celebrate Gedhun Choekyi Nyima’s birthday, we also remember his disappearance for the last 25 years. To press on the Chinese government for his immediate release, the CTA has launched a global campaign demanding his immediate release. Unfortunately, because of the coronavirus pandemic which originated in Wuhan, we are not able to do the physical lobbying but we are doing virtual lobbying all over the world.”
While urging the United Nations to hold a hearing about the case of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and demand his immediate release, President Sangay said, “I hope the Chinese government will pay heed to the global appeal and at least allow Gedhun Choekyi Nyima to be with his family members, to be with the Tibetan community in Tibet.”
He added that Tibet has been under iron-fist control of China for over six decades now and generations of Tibetans have endured immense hardship at the hand of Chinese authorities. The Chinese government continues to be blatant in violating basic human rights and freedoms in Tibet.