May 9, 2016
For Immediate Release:
Contact: Tamdin Hrichoe (Tibetan) +91 8894135363
Tsewang Dolma (English) +91 9882510131 Tenzin Wangchuk (Hindi) +91 8527338119
Cycle Rally for Panchen Lama
Dharamshala: In 1995 His Holiness the Dalai Lama recognized a young boy, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, as the 11th Panchen Lama; the second most important spiritual leader in Tibet. Chinese authorities abducted Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and his family just weeks after; he was six-years old.
Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the 11th Panchen Lama, and his family have been missing since 1995. The last time we had any information about his whereabouts was in 2010 when Chinese-appointed Tibet Governor, Padma Choling, told reporters that Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and his family are now living a good life as ordinary citizens in Tibet. China seeks to legitimize its rule in Tibet by claiming it plays a crucial role in the identification of Tibet’s two most important spiritual leaders, the Dalai Lama and in this case the Panchen Lama.
After repeated attempts to gain access to the boy, no international agencies or human rights organizations (including the United Nations) have been allowed to visit Gedun Choekyi Nyima or his family, and their condition remains uncertain. In an attempt to establish their authority over all “internal affairs” of China (political or otherwise) the Chinese leadership nominated and selected their own 11th Panchen Lama in November 1995. Their selection of six-year-old boy named Gyaltsen Norbu, is another young victim in China’s plan to undermine and control the Tibetan people, their faith, religion, and their nation.
Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) is organizing a ‘Cycle Rally for Panchen Lama’ to raise awareness about his situation, the condition of Tibetans living under the hardline policies of the Chinese government and show our solidarity to our brothers and sisters inside Tibet. We seek accurate information about Gedhun Choekyi Nyima’s whereabouts and wellbeing and we urge the United Nations as well as governments of the world to pressure the Chinese government to show us concrete evidence that Panchen Lama is indeed alive and well.
Demands:
- Urge China to give evidence that the 11th Panchen Lama Gendun Choekyi Nyima is alive
- Urge China to address the demands of the Self Immolations in Tibet
- Urge China to allow a fact finding international delegation to assess the situation inside Tibet
- Urge China to release all political prisoners
The cycle rally will begin from Dehradun on May 17, which is the day when Panchen Lama was arrested and end in Delhi on May 23, 2016. On May 23rd, 1951 the “17-Point Agreement” was signed between Tibet and China under Chinese pressure. “Ending the rally on May 23rd will highlight the facts about the 17 point agreement and our position which is we do not accept the agreement as it was signed under duress”, says TYC VP Tamdin Hrichoe. Tibetans from Dekyiling, Poanta Sahib, Puruwalla, Raipur, Rajpur, Herbertpur, Nainital, Mussorie, Delhi, Dharamshala and Bir Tibetan Settlements will be taking part in this cycle rally.
Tibetan Youth Congress is the largest Tibetan NGO in exile working for the Tibetan Freedom movement.
