29 Years On: Still “Missing”
Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the 11th Panchen Lama, was abducted by the authorities of the People’s Republic of China on this day in 1995. At that time, the mere six-year-old was then recognised as one of the highest religious leaders in Tibetan Buddhism. On 14 May 1995, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama had publicly announced the young boy as the 11th Panchen Lama and officially bestowed him the name Jetsun Tenzin Gedhun Yeshi Trinley Phuntsok Pal Sangpo. Three days later, on 17 May, the young Panchen Lama “disappeared” along with his parents and Chadrel Rinpoche, the abbot of the Panchen Lama’s seat Tashi Lhunpo monastery. Rejecting His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s recognition of the Panchen Lama’s reincarnation, the Chinese authorities appointed another boy in his place for political motives. 29 years on, the Panchen Lama, his parents and Chadrel Rinpoche are still “missing”, without a trace.
Over these years, the international community, various governments, organisations, supporters and Tibetans around the world made extensive efforts on many accounts to ascertain the whereabouts of the 11th Panchen Lama, who was popularly known by his birth name Gedhun Choekyi Nyima. Some even raised concerns about the Panchen Lama’s health and whereabouts directly with PRC delegations, including in the United Nations on several occasions but to no avail.
“We condemn China’s prolonged enforced disappearance of the 11th Panchen Lama and reiterate our call on the PRC government to immediately release the Panchen Lama who has remained in captivity for 29 years,” states Tenzin Lekshay, the spokesperson of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), and Additional Secretary of the Department of Information and International Relations. “Where else would it be possible but under the PRC government that an adult is kept completely oblivious of what’s happening and hidden from the face of the earth that there is not even a single reliable information or photo of the abducted Panchen Lama of recent times? We demand the PRC government to release verifiable information of the well-being and the location of the Panchen Lama, and that of his parents and Chadrel Rinpoche. Until the light of truth is shined, we will continue to demand for their freedom,” he further exclaims.
Last month, on 24 April, the Panchen Lama turned 35 years of age. The CTA observed his birthday in absentia, along with many others around the world. As long as the PRC continues to keep him “disappeared”, the CTA’s efforts in advocating for the Panchen Lama’s release will continue, the search will continue.
– Filed by Tibet Advocacy Section, DIIR, CTA
