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The Hindu
17-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Tibetans stage demonstration; question whereabouts of Panchen Lama
Members of the Tibetan community at Bylakuppe staged a demonstration in the city on Saturday, marking what they said was the 30th anniversary of the disappearance of Panchen Lama. The Tibetans said that Gedun Choekyi Nyima was recognised by the Dalai Lama as the 11th Panchen Lama in 1995 and alleged that he disappeared within three days of the announcement. Accusing the Chinese government of 'abducting' the Panchen Lama, members of the Tibetan Youth Congress, the Regional Tibetan Women's Association, and the Mysuru Tibetan Students' Association said they are extremely concerned as the Panchen Lama plays an important role in the Tibetan religious hierarchy. Describing the Panchen Lama as the world's youngest political prisoner, the Tibetans said, 'his disappearance, along with other political prisoners, shows the true face of political repression and gross violation of religious freedom in China.' The association members demanded that the Chinese government respect the Tibetan people's rights and freedom and release all political prisoners. It urged the Chinese government to accept the 'middle-way approach' initiated by the Dalai Lama, and the United Nations' Human Rights Commission was appealed to express serious concern about the whereabouts of the 11th Panchen Lama. The members marched along the main thoroughfares of the city holding placards in support of their demands.
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First Post
08-05-2025
- Politics
- First Post
China's fabrication of lies on Panchen Lama
(File) A member of the Tibetan Youth Congress poses for a photograph before embarking on a motorcycle rally to create awareness about the Panchen Lama in Dharmsala on April 23, 2019. AP On April 25, the 11th Panchen Lama Gedhun Choekyi Nyima — the world's youngest political prisoner — turned 36 years old. Yet, his whereabouts still remain unknown to this day. On May 14, 1995, when the Dalai Lama proclaimed that Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was the reincarnation of the 10th Panchen Lama, the Chinese authorities immediately abducted him on May 17 and anointed their own Panchen Lama— Gyaltsen Norbu (Gyaincain Norbu). Since then, his whereabouts have been completely untraceable. Nor has there been concrete evidence of his status, only fabricated lies from the Chinese authorities. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD China has been cognizant of the importance of the 11th Panchen Lama, given the historical relationship between the Dalai Lamas and the Panchen Lamas in their roles in identifying each other's reincarnation. Two possible scenarios could have ignited China to abduct Gedhun Choekyi Nyima chosen by the Dalai Lama. First, the Chinese authorities might have thought that the successor — chosen by the Dalai Lama — would not lend his allegiance to them to rule over Tibet. This brings the second thought that he can't be made the puppet of the Chinese authorities in choosing the next Dalai Lama. Consequently, those scenarios led to the anointment of their own Panchen Lama. China's Fabrication of Lies If China can alter the historical facts, then fabricating lies about the 11th Panchen Lama is business as usual. Right after the abduction of the 11th Panchen Lama — recognised by the Dalai Lama — China fabricated four major lies about his status at various occasions. First, the Chinese Spokesman for the Foreign Affairs Ministry said, as reported by the Press Trust of India on June 13, 1995, 'The so-called issue of the reincarnated child being kidnapped does not exist at all.' Conversely, on October 19, 1995, China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Chen Jian stated while responding to foreign reporters: 'Choosing the successor of the Panchen Lama is an affair to be decided by the selection committee, the decision-making authority lies with the Chinese government.' When a journalist asked about the status of the boy chosen by the Dalai Lama, as reported by AFP, he added: 'As far as I know he is safe.' There was a global outcry about the 11th Panchen Lama's whereabouts, including the 'US Senate's unanimous adoption of a resolution urging the Chinese government to support the Dalai Lama's selection of the Panchen Lama'. Despite all the concerted pressure from the international community, China evasively undermined the global outcry. Second, on March 8, 1996, Raidi, deputy secretary of Tibet's Communist Party committee, told the reporters (reported AP): 'Like other children in China, he will enjoy an education of that I can assure you.' Another striking lie was fabricated by Wu Jianmin, China's representative to the UN in Geneva, on March 30, 1996. As per AFP, he told the UN Committee Children's Rights: 'China was protecting him from possible kidnapping by Tibetan separatists.' These fabricated lies are a blatant attempt to gain leverage over their imprisonment of the Panchen Lama. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Third, on August 17, 1996, China's State media Xinhua said, 'The Dalai Lama's illegal appointed 'Soul Boy' is leading a free life, just like other Tibetan Children.' After three decades, there has been no slight indication of his parents' whereabouts, let alone him. Fourth, on April 26, 2022, China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said while responding to the US calling on Beijing to disclose the real 11th Panchen Lama's whereabouts: 'The so-called spiritual boy is a normal Chinese citizen living a normal life.' This statement is the latest fabricated lie until the next one. One notable shift in China's approach to the imprisoned Panchen Lama is that he was labelled as 'a normal Chinese citizen', which ultimately leads to the assumption that he is being completely assimilated into the Chinese community. A Puppet Panchen Lama On January 12, 1996, China's Communist Party chief Jiang Zemin met the Chinese-anointed Panchen Lama and said thus: 'The Communist Party and government hope the 11th Panchen Lama will study well, grow up healthy and inherit the patriotic spirit of previous Panchen Lamas.' However, if the Chinese-anointed 11th Panchen Lama tries to follow the footsteps of the predecessor, he would sooner or later land behind the bars. The 10th Panchen Lama spent 14 years in prison or house arrest for criticising the Chinese government's rules in Tibet and the plight of Tibetans. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Given the history, it is very unlikely that the 11th Panchen Lama — anointed by the Chinese government — would even attempt to challenge the status quo of Tibet under the Chinese authoritarian regime. Instead, China's anointed Panchen Lama made some rare visits to the parts of Tibet and urged the local Tibetans to uphold the spirit of the Chinese Communist Party. On the contrary, Tibetans in Tibet don't revere him, let alone the dictums mandated by him. The lack of Tibetans' devotion to him resulted in paying 100 yuan to each Tibetan who would come to seek his blessings. This desperate gesture from the Chinese government indicates that the political investment in their Panchen Lama didn't reap any fruits so far, except a pending future representation when the Dalai Lama passes away. China's three decades of fabricated lies about the real Panchen Lama have led nowhere, except to dodging questions from the international community. More importantly, this pathetic gesture has proven that China still has not been able to rule Tibet completely. Even if the Chinese-anointed Panchen Lama plays his trump card to choose the next Dalai Lama, history will witness yet another bitter episode — one where a fake Panchen Lama appoints a fake Dalai Lama. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Yeshi Dawa is a former Bureau Chief at Radio Free Asia, Dharamshala and former Academic Administrator at Institute of Leadership & Governance, The Maharaja Sayajirao University, Baroda. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost's views.


Hindustan Times
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Himachal: Tibetan political NGOs condemn cremation of religious leader without family consent
Tibetan political NGOs on Monday condemned the reported cremation of Tulku Hungkar Dorje Rinpoche, a revered Tibetan religious figure who allegedly died in custody under suspicious circumstances in Vietnam late last month, without family consent. Addressing a press conference in Dharamshala, the NGOs have demanded international intervention. They stated that Rinpoche reportedly passed away late in March while in the custody of Vietnamese authorities in Ho Chi Minh City, just days after being arrested in a coordinated operation involving Chinese agents. 'Disturbing information indicates that Rinpoche's remains were cremated in Vietnam without the consent of his family. The Rinpoche's detention, his untimely death in custody, and the subsequent unauthorised cremation constitute grave violations of international legal standards and can be seen to represent a deliberate obstruction of justice, raising serious questions regarding China's involvement in his apprehension and death,' the NGOs said in a joint statement. They reiterated the urgent demand for a full and transparent international investigation into the circumstances surrounding Rinpoche's death. Ju Tenkyong from the Amnye Machen Institute said, 'In the future, the five monks who came to Vietnam to retrieve Rinpoche's body will face extreme danger to their safety. Even now, Lung Ngon Monastery is facing immense difficulties, and forwarding and disseminating photos and information about Rinpoche is strictly forbidden. The monastery has been threatened with shutdown if it violates orders from the Chinese government.' Sonam Tsering of the Tibetan Youth Congress added, 'We condemn the Vietnamese government's handling of Tulku Hungkar Dorje Rinpoche's death, including its apparent complicity with China, opaque investigation, and refusal to release his body to his family. International action is needed to hold China accountable for its transnational repression.'