Tibetan delegation in UK concludes four-day advocacy to Free 11th Panchen Lama

July 22, 2022

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Book release at the UK Parliament with APPGT members

London: The four-day advocacy work in UK by the Tibetan delegation headed by His Eminence Khen Rinpoche Zeekgyab Tulku of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery concluded on Thursday, 21 July. This was part of the global Panchen Lama campaign coordinated by the Central Tibetan Administration, with local programmes organised by the Office of Tibet, London. All MPs who received Rinpoche’s presentation acknowledged the importance of the issues raised in his five-point call to action and promised to raise the issues therein at the various platforms available within the UK Parliament.

While bidding farewell at the airport, both Khen Rinpoche and Representative Sonam Frasi drew the same conclusion that it was a successful visit that opened a lot of promising leads in raising awareness about Panchen Rinpoche. Representative Sonam promised to follow up on the discussions with the dignitaries and was hopeful that Khen Rinpoche will visit the UK again.

Yesterday, CTA’s publication ‘Tibet’s Stolen Child: Remembering the Story of the 11th Panchen Lama Gedhun Choekyi Nyima’ was released in the UK Parliament hosted by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet (APPGT). Speaking at the book launch, Rinpoche repeated his five-point call to action regarding Panchen Lama while elaborating on the positive responses he received from all the MPs he has met in all the countries he visited since the start of this global advocacy tour in November 2021. APPGT members took copies of the book for keeping in the UK Parliament library. Complimentary copies were offered to all attendees.

Earlier that morning, the delegation had made presentations of the ‘five-point call to action’ to the Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Freedom of Religion or Belief, MP Jim Shannon. Also in attendance at the presentation was the president of the Buddhist Society, Dr Desmond Biddulph, a long-time friend of the Tibetans who share Tibetan concerns about freedom of religion in Tibet.

The delegation also had the chance to view the Buddhist and Tibetan collections at the British Museum including one of its current exhibitions ‘Feminine Power – the Divine to the Demonic’ where Rinpoche found a thangka and statue of Tara of particular interest.

Rinpoche gave profound advice and guidance within the modern context to a small group of Tibetan youth who attended the V-TAG information session at Tibet House on Tuesday evening. As it was the hottest-ever day in the history of UK weather records with travel restrictions and transport disruption due to wild fires – the busiest day for the London Fire Brigade since WWII – many interested youths could not attend the session. Dukthen Kyi, head of Tibet Advocacy Section explained the value of youth engagement which is the cornerstone of the V-TAG programme and the process of registering for its membership. They had a good informal discussion session with questions going both ways between participants and speakers in clarifying and understanding each other’s expectations.

Before heading to London Heathrow airport this evening, Rinpoche was invited to the Buddhist Society where he gave an interview for the Society’s publication. His Eminence Lelung Rinpoche, an old friend of Zeekgyab Rinpoche hosted an early dinner for Rinpoche and his entourage at the Lelung Dharma Centre before the delegation left for the airport.

-Report filed by Office of Tibet, London