Panchen Lama Turns 17
Tuesday, 25 Arpil 2006, 4:30 PM
 From left: Tenzin Tsundue, Former Kalon Tripa Sonam Topgyal, Kalon Tripa Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche, Jampa Tenzin and Sonam Gyaltsen |
Dharamshala: Dharamshala today commemorated the 17th birthday of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, His Serenity the 11th Pachen Lama.
It has been 11 years since his disappearance. The whereabouts of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima is still unknown. Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and his parents disappeared a day after His Holiness the Dalai Lama recognised the boy as the 11th Panchen Lama, on 14 May 1995.
To mark his 17th birthday, the Central Association for His Holiness the Panchen Lama organised a debate focusing on the Panchen Erdini.
Present at the event were Kalon Tripa of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche, former Kalon Tripa Sonam Topgyal, Kalon for Religion and Culture Department Lobsang Nyima, secretaries of the Information and International Relations, heads of the non-governmental organisations, staff and students of the Tibetan Childrens Village, and other observers.
Kalon Tripa appreciated and thanked the association for organising this event and publishing a collection of speeches of the late Panchen Lama, which are very rare.
Kalon Tripa said that the late 10th Panchen Lama Lobsang Trinley Lhundrup Choekyi Gyaltsen remained in Tibet even after the 1959 uprising to attend and to work for the problems of the Tibetans in Tibet.
He said that the late Panchen Lama is one of the leading figures who have worked hard to improve the life of the Tibetans in Tibet and who have openly criticised the Chinese Communist Party’s policies in Tibet.
Kalon Tripa recounted the background when the 10th Panchen Lama passed away on 28 January 1989 in Tibet under mysterious circumstances and the numerous approaches His Holiness the Dalai Lama made to the Chinese government to send religious delegation to Tibet to participate in the search for reincarnation.
Kalon Tripa also related the event of the invitation of the Chinese government to His Holiness the Dalai Lama to attend the Panchen Lama’s cremation ceremony, which His Holiness couldn’t attend due to the short notice. The invitation was sent on 7 February 1989 and the ceremony was to take place on 15 February.
Former Kalon Tripa Sonam Topgyal spoke on the setbacks we Tibetans experienced after the demise of the 10th Panchen Lama. After this the floor was opened for question-and-answer session.
Sonam Gyaltsen, Tibetan history professor of the College for Higher Tibetan Studies, spoke on the 11th Pachen Lama and future status of Tibet while Jampa Tenzin of Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama gave an overview on the 70,000 Character Petition submitted by the late Panchen Lama to the Chinese leadership.
Tenzin Tsundue, president of the Friends of Tibet, gave his views on the late Panchen Lama’s struggle for the cause of Tibet.
Today as the 11th Panchen Lama Gedun Choekyi Nyima turns 17, the Central Association of the Panchen Lama and Tashi Lhunpo monastery in south India led appeal for the support in demanding the Chinese government on following points.
- For the immediate and unconditional release of the 11th Panchen Lama and his family.
- To allow any independent observer to assess the well being of the 11th Panchen Lama and his family.
- To allow Gedhun Choekyi Nyima the right to undergo special religious education and the right to live in freedom and receive a broad-based education just as any other child.
- To install Gedhun Choekyi Nyima as the rightful holder of the Panchen Lama lineage.
- To allow His Serenity the Panchen Lama to return to Tashi Lhunpo Monastery.
- Release Chadre. Rinpoche, head of the official Chinese committee responsible for the search for the late Panchen Lama’s reincarnation, and Jang-pa Chung along with restoration of their previous positions.
(www.tibet.net is the official website of the Central Tibetan Administration.)
