Tibetans decry disappearance of 11th Panchen Lama

Lalit Mohan

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Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, May 17

The Tibetan Women Association on Thursday took out a protest march in Dharamsala on the 23rd anniversary of the disappearance of Panchen Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the 11th Panchen Lama of Tibet. The members of the association began their march from Mcleodganj up to Dharamsala demanding the release of Panchen Lama.

The department of information and international relations of the Central Tibetan Administration is releasing a three-minute video titled “Missing Panchen Lama in the international eye“. The video highlights some of the concerns of the international community over the missing Panchen Lama.

Referring to the concern expressed by the UN Working Group on enforced and involuntary disappearance in 2011, the secretary of the working group has mentioned that the Chinese Government’s response to the communication over the well-being of Panchen Lama was “not considered sufficient” to verify the “fate or whereabouts” of Panchen Gedhun Choekyi Nyima. Therefore, Panchen Gedhun Choekyi Nyima’s case – case no-22868 – continues to remain under the consideration of the working group to this day, the CTA release maintained.

The Dalai Lama while talking to newsmen at Gaggal airport said the 11th Panchen Lama Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, according to reliable source was alive and pursuing normal education.

“I hope the official Panchen Lama studies well under the guidance of one good teacher,” the Dalai Lama had said.

The six-year-old boy who was identified by the Dalai Lama as the 11th Panchen Lama disappeared on May 17, 1995. The Chinese Government later admitted that it was holding the boy in protective custody. Instead, the Chinese Government nominated another child Gyaltsen Norbu as 11th Panchen Lama. Despite repeated appeals from the international community, no one has been allowed to contact the young Panchen Lama or his family.

The Tibetans here demanded that the Chinese Government should release Panchen Lama and allow him to make choice regarding his future. The Chinese Government has been claiming that Gedhun Cheokyi Nyima has been living a normal life somewhere in China. However, if it is so, the government should provide evidence to the world. The Panchen Lama should be allowed to take a decision if he wants to lead the life of a monk or live a normal life, the protesting Tibetans here demanded.

The Panchen Lama is significant in the Tibetan culture because of the tradition that he heads the teams who identifies reincarnation of the Dalai Lama after his death. With the Chinese Government holding back the Panchen Lama identified by the Dalai Lama, the fear that tradition might not be fulfilled has gripped the Tibetans living here in exile.