As the 35th birthday of the 11th Panchen Lama, Gedun Choekyi Nyima, approaches on April 25, the Choddi Tashi Lhunpo Cultural Society has issued a call to action, seeking to shed light on his long-standing disappearance. The monastery, located in the Bylakuppe Tibetan settlement in South India, is the exiled spiritual base for the Panchen Lama, who has been missing since 1995.
In 1995, at just six years old, Gedun Choekyi Nyima was recognized by the Dalai Lama as the 11th Panchen Lama. Shortly thereafter, he was reportedly taken into custody by Chinese authorities, along with his family. The Chinese government later appointed Gyaltsen Norbu as the Panchen Lama, a move widely rejected by the Tibetan community as the appointment of a “puppet” Panchen Lama by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
The society’s statement highlighted the ongoing concern for the Panchen Lama‘s well-being, stating, “This 25th April of 2024 marks the 35th birthday of the 11th Panchen Lama who has been held in Chinese captivity for almost three decades now.” The disappearance of Gedun Choekyi Nyima is viewed by the Tibetan community as a severe violation of human rights and an infringement on their religious and cultural freedoms.
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The Central Tibetan Administration and various advocacy groups continue to call for transparency regarding his whereabouts and health. “In the last three decades, the whereabouts of the missing 11th Panchen Lama have been unknown and the Communist Party of China continues to meddle and withhold information in matters of the Panchen Lama,” the monastery expressed in its appeal.
Khelkhang Rinpoche, General Secretary at the Choddi Tashi Lhunpo Cultural Society penned an appeal letter urging supporters worldwide to advocate for the Panchen Lama by contacting their local representatives. The letter emphasizes the significant impact that international awareness and media pressure could have on the situation. “Your active support in the Panchen Lama issue will continue to be the greatest birthday gift to His Holiness,” Khelkhang Rinpoche wrote, as reported by Tashi Lhunpo Monastery.
The society also announced the release of an animated film on April 25, aimed at increasing awareness about the Panchen Lama‘s plight. This initiative is part of a broader effort to engage global communities in the quest for truth and justice regarding Gedun Choekyi Nyima’s disappearance.
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