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Tibetans mark 10 years of Panchen Lama's disappearance (IANS)
IANS
May 17 - A candlelight vigil here Tuesday marked the 10th year of disappearance of Gedhun Choekyi
Nyima, the XIth Panchen Lama of Tibet.
According to the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD), Nyima, now 16 years old,
and his family went missing May 17, 1995 after the Dalai Lama, spiritual leader of the Tibetans,
officially recognised him as the XIth Panchen Lama.
In his place, the government of China appointed a child named Gyaltsen Norbu as the Panchen Lama,
but most Tibetans have rejected him as a "fake".
The Tibetan Women's Association held a candlelight vigil in three areas here.
Similar vigils are being held in 26 cities worldwide, its members said.
"It is unacceptable for Beijing to continue to keep the boy, who has been recognised as one of
Tibet's most important religious leaders, in isolation from his people and from the world," said
Mary-Beth Markey, executive director of the International Campaign for Tibet, an NGO formed to
protect the interests of Tibet.
"We hope that China will acknowledge the concern of people all over the world by allowing access
to Gedhun Choekyi Nyima in order to ascertain his well-being," Markey told IANS.
To mark the 10th year of Nyima's disappearance, the TCHRD has planned several activities. It has
invited five 16-year-olds from Tibetan schools, monasteries and nunneries for essay and letter
writing competitions.
The students will also sign an appeal on postcards and leave hand impressions on a white cloth as
part of a TCHRD campaign, demanding that the Chinese government give information about Nyima.
The essays, letters and postcards will be sent to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child
before its meeting in September.
Fearing that Beijing may have kept Nyima under detention, the TCHRD has urged the international
community to maintain pressure on China to allow the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child to
meet the Panchen Lama.
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World Tibet Network NewsPublished by the Canada Tibet CommitteeWednesday, May 18, 2005 |
2. Tibetans mark 10 years of Panchen Lama's disappearance (IANS)
IANS
May 17 - A candlelight vigil here Tuesday marked the 10th year of disappearance of Gedhun Choekyi
Nyima, the XIth Panchen Lama of Tibet.
According to the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD), Nyima, now 16 years old,
and his family went missing May 17, 1995 after the Dalai Lama, spiritual leader of the Tibetans,
officially recognised him as the XIth Panchen Lama.
In his place, the government of China appointed a child named Gyaltsen Norbu as the Panchen Lama,
but most Tibetans have rejected him as a "fake".
The Tibetan Women's Association held a candlelight vigil in three areas here.
Similar vigils are being held in 26 cities worldwide, its members said.
"It is unacceptable for Beijing to continue to keep the boy, who has been recognised as one of
Tibet's most important religious leaders, in isolation from his people and from the world," said
Mary-Beth Markey, executive director of the International Campaign for Tibet, an NGO formed to
protect the interests of Tibet.
"We hope that China will acknowledge the concern of people all over the world by allowing access
to Gedhun Choekyi Nyima in order to ascertain his well-being," Markey told IANS.
To mark the 10th year of Nyima's disappearance, the TCHRD has planned several activities. It has
invited five 16-year-olds from Tibetan schools, monasteries and nunneries for essay and letter
writing competitions.
The students will also sign an appeal on postcards and leave hand impressions on a white cloth as
part of a TCHRD campaign, demanding that the Chinese government give information about Nyima.
The essays, letters and postcards will be sent to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child
before its meeting in September.
Fearing that Beijing may have kept Nyima under detention, the TCHRD has urged the international
community to maintain pressure on China to allow the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child to
meet the Panchen Lama.
Articles in this Issue:
- Thousands Rally for Panchen Lama's Release in Dharamsala (TWA)
- Tibetans mark 10 years of Panchen Lama's disappearance (IANS)
- A Joint Vigil on 17th May 2005 in Berlin
- ITIM Vigil for Panchen Lama
- His Holiness to Attend Nobel Laureates’ Conference in Jordan (TibetNet)
- King Abdullah II of Jordan and Elie Wiesel Host Petra Conference of Nobel Laureates
- School Heads Meet, Finance Department to Hold Workshop for Accountants (TibetNet)
- China: Danger of melting Everest glaciers (Reuters)
- Harper announces candidacy in Brossard - La Prairie
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