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TWA marks 14 years in captivity of the 20 year old 11th Panchen Lama of Tibet?

Source: TWA press release,17 May,2009

 Exile Tibetans debate on strategic means to seek the release of Tibet’s imprisoned spiritual leader.

14 years of enforced disappearance, incarceration and coerced incommunicado of Tibet’s 11th Panchen Lama has borne its heavy brunt on the exile Tibetans and the world at large. With no access to verifiable information about Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the then six year old boy from Nagchu District, Tibet, who on 25th January, 1995, was identified by H.H the Dalai Lama to be the 11th Panchen Lama of Tibet, the concern about his safety and whereabouts is mounting and the patience of the Tibetans is wearing its thinnest armor. The continued detention of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and his parents further evidences the serious case of political oppression, social suppression and religious repression in Tibet and it is a blatant rejection by the Chinese government of the recommendations of the international human rights bodies.

Amidst such a crucial period, the release of Tibet’s revered and spiritual leader, the Panchen Lama is pivotal and to this end, TWA has convened a Panel discussion on May 17, 2009, on the 14th anniversary of Panchen Lama’s abduction that is intended to discuss as to how we can best can decide the future course of action and bring about an effective and a strategic means to secure the release of the imprisoned Panchen Lama. The speakers; Gyari Dolma, Deputy Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile, Urgyen Tenzin, Director, Tibetan Center for Human Rights and Democracy, Lobsang Tashi, Researcher, Central Association for His Holiness the Panchen Lama, Lungrik Gyal, Editor, Tibet Times and Gang Lhamo, Reporter, Tibet Express, will focus on and expound on the topic of discussion; ‘Can we secure the Release of the 11th Panchen Lama after 14 years of His abduction?’

Scheduled to be held at Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA), the discussion will be moderated by Tashi Wangchuk, reporter for Voice of Tibet. The question-answer session that will follow as a culmination of the panel discussion will facilitate ample opportunity for the audience to raise questions to the panelists.

TWA is convinced that a well-structured and a cardinal discussion will essentially clear the ambiguity and unearth strategic means and measures to ensure the expeditious and unconditional release of the detained Panchen Lama. This is paramount to assuage the 14 years of the international outrage and earnest appeal for Panchen Lama’s release.

TWA’s participation in the 36th session of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in September 2005 resulted in the CRC recommendation to the Chinese authorities to "allow an independent expert to visit and confirm the well-being of Gedun Choekyi Nyima while respecting his right to privacy, and that of his parents." Subsequently, TWA’s representation at the 41st session of United Nations Committee against Torture in November 2008 saw the CAT experts laying strong emphasis on the need to follow-up and implement the recommendation of Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) on Panchen Lama made in the year 2005.

The Chinese Government’s continued abduction of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima violates the basic principles enshrined in the general human rights instruments such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). Albeit we continue to request and seek the intervention of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) and the UN Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearance (UNWGEID), but it is palpable that the Chinese government holds the key to 14 years of Panchen Lama’s confinement and consequently His release.



In a bid to eliminate H.H the Dalai Lama's influence in Tibet and to gain political mileage out of spiritual traditions, the Chinese government in November 1995 installed a different boy as the 11th Panchen Lama. This imprudent gesture exposes the Chinese government’s insecurity regarding its illegitimate authority in Tibet. The Chinese authorities must therefore bear the thrust of this abominable act. The 20 year old Gendun Choekyi Nyima who has been made a pawn in the Chinese government’s game for political control in Tibet’s spiritual affairs, is now mature enough to fend, protect and speak for Himself without the Chinese government’s alleged protection and security.

While Tibetan Women’s Association stand unreserved in our vehement condemnation of the atrocities of the Chinese Government, we beseech the Chinese government to immediately release Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and to come to the understanding that the Chinese state interference in the religious affairs of Tibet threatens the very survival of a religious tradition that has flourished for over 2000 years. We will step up our efforts in our relentless pursuit of our goal; to ensure the safe return of Panchen Lama to his rightful abode (Tashi Lhunpo monastery) and to see the complete restoration of His freedom and His political and religious rights.

Tibetan Women's Association (TWA) has 49 regional chapters and over 15, 000 members outside Tibet. Today, TWA is the second largest Tibetan NGO and the only women’s NGO in our exile that advocates human rights for Tibetan women in Tibet and empowerment of Tibetan women in exile, particularly the women refugee from Tibet.

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