Tibetans celebrate birthday of disappeared spiritual leader

DHARAMSHALA: Twenty years after the disappearance of Panchen Lama, one of Tibet's highest spiritual leaders, Tibetans and supporters gathered to celebrate his 26th birthday and called for his immediate release.
After the Dalai Lama recognized Gedhun Choekyi Nyima as the 11th Panchen Lama in 1995, the 6-year-old boy and his family were allegedly detained.Tibetans say that the Chinese government installed another Panchen Lama, Gyaincain Norbu, in his place. However, Tibetans have refused to accept him as Panchen Lama and continue to call for his return to his rightful seat, the Tashilhunpo Monastery in Tibet.
"Kidnapped at the age of 6, Gendun Choekyi Nyima is considered the world's youngest political prisoner. May 17 will mark 20 years of his enforced disappearance," said Nyima, vice president of Regional Tibetan Youth Congress, Dharamshala.
"Through this event, we call upon the UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances, human rights organizations and world governments to inquire about his wellbeing and to pressurize the Chinese government for his immediate release," she added.
Organized by Students for a Free Tibet (SFT), India, RTYC Dharamsala, and Regional Tibetan Women's Association, Dharamsala, the birthday celebration included Tibetan games, political theater and cake cutting.
"By celebrating Panchen Lama's birthday, we want to show the Chinese government that they do not have the right to control the reincarnation of Tibetan Lamas," said Dorjee Tseten, Asia director of SFT. "Tibetans will continue to work for his release. No matter how long it takes, he will always remain in the hearts of Tibetan people," he said.