Beijing, May 17: The International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) and supporters of Tibetan Buddhism worldwide have called on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to immediately release the 11th Panchen Lama and restore his rights and freedoms.
According to ICT, Chinese authorities abducted a six-year-old Tibetan boy, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, on May 17, 1995. This occurred shortly after the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, recognized him as the reincarnated Panchen Lama. The Panchen Lama is regarded as one of the most significant religious leaders in Tibetan Buddhism.
While Tibetans in exile celebrated the 37th birthday of the Panchen Lama this April, he and his parents have not been seen publicly since their abduction in 1995.
ICT President Tencho Gyatso stated, “On May 17, we remember the tragic day in Tibetan history when the Chinese government took away a revered religious leader (a six-year-old child) from us. To this day, the CCP has kept him and his family in captivity.”
She further urged international leaders, including President Trump and Secretary of State Rubio, to demand the immediate release of the Panchen Lama from President Xi Jinping and Chinese officials, and to cease interference in Tibet’s religious and cultural traditions.
ICT’s statement emphasized that the lack of information regarding the Panchen Lama is part of China’s repressive policies aimed at undermining Tibetan cultural identity.
After the abduction, Chinese authorities appointed another Tibetan child, Gyaltsen Norbu, as the Panchen Lama, but this has not been accepted by Tibetans or the international community.
ICT also noted that the recently enacted “Ethnic Unity and Progress Law” and China’s 15th Five-Year Plan are steps toward weakening Tibetan language, religion, and culture.
The organization claimed that China has occupied Tibet for over 60 years and has not engaged in any meaningful negotiations with Tibetan leaders since 2010. Furthermore, China has denied the Dalai Lama, the highest spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism and a globally respected figure, the right to return to Tibet.
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