The Panchen Lama Turns 20, Dharamsala Offers Long Life PrayersSunday, 26 April 2009, 11:34 a.m.

An image of Gendun Choekyi Nyima, seen in a   monastery in eastern Tibet near a photograph of His   Holiness the Dalai Lama.(Photo: ICT)

Dharamshala:
Marking the 20th birthday of His Serenity the 11th Panchen Lama in a
solemn ceremony, Tibetans in Dharamshala yesterday offered prayers for
his long life, while they remember the legacy of his predecessor in the
preservation and promotion of Tibet’s cultural heritage and his
indomitable courage to speak out against the Chinese leaders for the
wellbeing of Tibetans.Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and his parents
disappeared a day after His Holiness the Dalai Lama recognised him as
the 11th Panchen Lama on 14 May 1995.  Despite repeated appeals, no
international agency or human rights organisation has been granted
access to the boy or his family to verify his well-being. China
continues to claim that the boy is “merely an ordinary child”, who is
“leading a normal, happy life and receiving a good cultural education.”
Senior
officials from the Central Tibetan Administration, including speaker of
the Tibetan Parliament in Exile and Kalon for the Department of
Religion and Culture, attended the low-key birthday organised by
Chhodhi Tashi Lhunpo Cultural Society, seat of the Panchen Lama in
exile located in  south India.To bring good health and long
life of the Panchen Lama, the organisers invited to the prayer session
a group of 108 Tibetan students aged similar to the Panchen Lama. Expressing
deep concern over the whereabouts of the Panchen Lama which the Chinese
government has refused to reveal despite constant pressure from the
international community, Speaker Penpa Tsering underscored the need to
strengthen campaigns and maintain a sustained pressure for the Panchen
Lama’s release.In his address, Kalon Tsering Phuntsok
highlighted the great contribution made by late 10th Panchen Lama,
Lobsang Trinley Lhundrup Choekyi Gyaltsen.Kalon Tsering
Phuntsok said the 10th Panchen Lama remained in Tibet even after the
1959 uprising to attend and to work for the problems of the Tibetans in
Tibet.

Lobsang Trinley Lhundrup Choekyi  Gyaltsen, the  10th Panchen Lama of Tibet/Wikipedia

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. He
urged the younger generation of Tibetans to study the works of the late
Panchen Lama, which is etched in golden letters in Tibet’s historical
records.After a tour through Tibet, the late Panchen Lama
submitted a 70,000 character petition to Chinese government in May 1962
detailing the brutal suppression of the Tibetan people and
marginalisation of Tibetans in all aspects of development during and
after the Chinese aggression on Tibet. He suffered harsh and long-term
imprisonment after Chairman Mao Zedong called the petition “a poisoned
arrow shot at the Party”. Using
the method of drawing lots from a golden urn, China selected
six-year-old Gyaltsen Norbu as the “11th Panchen Lama” in November
1995. Chhodhi Tashi
Lhunpo Cultural Society, seat of the Panchen Lama in exile located in 
south India led appeal for the support in demanding the Chinese
government on following points.“We
would like to make a special plea for the release of the 11th Panchen
Lama. We also remain deeply concerned about the plight and safety of
his parents and family, as well as that of Chadrel Rinpoche and other
Tibetan political prisoners.” 1 Provide details of the next whereabouts and wellbeing of the 11th Panchen Lama, Gedun Choekyi Nyiima.2
Allow the official enthronement of the 11th Panchen Lama, Gendun
Choekyi Nyima, at Tashi Lhunpo monastery without any conditions; permit
him to receive the traditional Buddhist education in order to allow him
to follow in the path of his predecessors.3 Immediately release all Tibetan political prisoners, including Chadrel Rinpoche.4 Immediately stop the oppression and torture of Tibetan people inside Tibet.5
In accordance with His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Middle Way Approach
and as per thoughts and wishes of the 10th Panchen Lama – which is
similar to the path chosen by the Tibetan government-in-exile – grant
genuine regional autonomy to the Tibetan people under the Chinese
leadership, and under the said framework, provide a quick and lasting
resolution to the Panchen Lama.