Dharamshala: Young Tibetans, most of them born and brought up in exile, held a rally here seeking the immediate release of the 11th Panchen Lama Gedhun Choekyi Nyima.
Soon after Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was recognized as the 11th Panchen Lama as a 6 year old child by Dalai Lama he disappeared in China and has not been seen or hear about in the public for the last the 22 years .
“It will be hard for any mother to lose a child of mere 5-6 years old. Hence this small enactment is aimed to make every Tibetan realize that spreading awareness about the Panchen Lama is our responsibility,” said Gen Yangla, President of regional Tibetan Women Association .
Students for a Free Tibet organisation ,Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) and Tibetan Women’s Association (TWA) organized a street play in Dharamshala on17 th May, showing the young Lama’s abduction by the Chinese government at the age of six.
A rally was organized from Tibetan main temple, Tsuglagkhang in Mcleod Ganj to Katcchery Adda in lower Dharamshala, which was joined by hundreds of Tibetans raising slogans for his release and seeking support from the international community.
The TWA demanded that Chinese government release a latest picture of the grown up Gendun Choekyi Nyima along with proof of his good health. The organization further demanded his release and to allow an independent body such as United Nations to meet him.
The organization has also sent their members to various consulates including the US and to the office of United Nations in New Delhi seeking their intervention in the matter and to put pressure on China.
With over 22 years without any concrete information on his current situation and whereabouts, the Tibetan Center for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) today launched a special report on arbitrary detention titled ‘Inevitable Imprisonment: Arbitrary Detention and its Effects on the Exercise of Universal Rights in Tibet’.
The Central Tibetan Administration, CTA also launched a 4-minute video titled ‘Ten Facts About the Missing Panchen Lama’ featuring interview with Dr. Abishek Singhvi, Spokesperson for Indian National Congress and a lawyer, in which he spoke how China has used brute force to suppress all dissent and the unrepentant approach towards fundamental, spiritual and religious rights of the Tibetan people.
Arvind Sharma is an award winning bi-lingual journalist with more than 20 years of experience.
He has worked with Divya Himachal, Dainik Jagran, Dainik Bhasker, Vir Partap, Ajit and PTI.
In 2010, he was conferred the Himachal Kesri journalism award. He reports on the Tibetan Government in Exile, politics, sports, tourism and other topics. He lives in Dharamshala.
