In a recent joint press conference, prominent Buddhist leaders from the Himalayan region voiced their concerns regarding the whereabouts of the 11th Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, who has been missing for nearly three decades. The conference was reported by Tibet.net, the official site of the Central Tibetan Administration.
The event featured Kyabje Zeekyab Tulku Jetsun Tenzin Thupten Rabgyal, the Abbot of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, alongside other notable figures such as Kyabje Lochen Rinpoche of the Key Monastery, Tsechokling Tulku Tenzing Gelek from Sikkim, and Regzin Dorjay, the Acting President of the Ladakh Buddhist Association.
During the conference, as reported by Tibet.net, Zeekyab Rinpoche presented a five-point appeal to international bodies and foreign governments. The appeal demands direct action to locate the Panchen Lama and calls for recognition of his enforced disappearance as a violation of human and religious rights.
The leaders urged global communities and the United Nations to recognize the 11th Panchen Lama with an award, highlighting him as a victim of enforced disappearance. They also advocated for observing his birthday to raise awareness about his plight.
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Regzin Dorjay expressed deep concern about the lack of information on the Panchen Lama‘s status since his disappearance. He appealed to the Indian government to engage in talks with China about this issue and called for the United Nations to intervene. “As a Buddhist leader, I highly doubt the Panchen Lama’s current status, as no one has seen him since his disappearance,” Dorjay stated during the conference, as cited by Tibet.net.
The joint declaration also touched on the broader issue of the situation in Tibet, pointing out the extreme measures some Tibetans have taken, such as self-immolation, to protest their conditions under Chinese rule.
The leaders ended their conference with a strong call to the international community to support the Middle Way Approach to resolving the Tibet–China conflict, hoping to facilitate the return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet.
The plight of the Panchen Lama is a critical issue that resonates with millions of Buddhists worldwide, reflecting broader concerns about human rights and religious freedom in the region.
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