Tibet’s Missing Panchen Lama is 22 Today

Today, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, Tibet’s Panchen Lama, turns 22 years old.

Abducted by the Chinese government in May 1995, shortly after he was recognized by the Dalai Lama as the reincarnation of one of Tibet’s highest Buddhist leaders, he has been missing for 16 years. China refuses to answer to the United Nations, or any other human rights group on his whereabouts. He is often referred to as ‘the world’s youngest political prisoner.’

While I was in Dharamsala working on the series, ‘Tattoos of Tibetan Ex-Political Prisoners,’ I interviewed Pasang Dorjee. He is just one of countless Tibetans who have made sacrifices in the name of this stolen jewel.

In 1996, after the Chinese abducted the 11th Panchen Lama, the government appointed their own ‘fake lama.’ In an attempt to consecrate this, the Chinese government wanted to pay to host a ceremony for their puppet lama at Kardze Monastery.

Dorjee was arrested on April 2, 1996 for putting up posters in the monastery saying they did not want Chinese money.

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Read more: free tibet, human rights, panchen lama

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6:39PM PDT on May 16, 2011

Thanks

send a green star

Sandra H.

5:05AM PDT on May 4, 2011

Free Tibet!

J M A.

8:51AM PDT on May 2, 2011

CLEARLY, CHINA MUST BACK DOWN & AWAY FROM TIBET! CHINA HAS PROVED ITSELF A TERRORIST TO TIBETANS & CANNOT POSSIBLY CLAIM & SUSTAIN HUMANE LEADERSHIP THERE. TIBETAN RELIGIOUS FREEDOMS HAVE BEEN ASSAULTED BY CHINA. CHINA MUST APOLOGIZE & RELEASE PANCHEN LAMA IMMEDIATELY. WITHOUT THIS NEW BEGINNING, CHINA REMAINS A LOOMING NEGATIVE SHADOW UPON TIBET (AND THE WORLD). FREE PACHEN LAMA NOW!!

Berny P.

4:15AM PDT on May 2, 2011

WHEN WILL PEOPLE REALIZE THAN A DICTATORSHIP IS BAD......UNLESS YOU HIT THEM IN THEIR POCKET OR BY FORCE THEY WILL NEVER CHANGE AND WILL OPPRESSED THEIR PEOPLE.

I HAVE LIVED IN CHINA AND VISITED TIBET ,THE TIBETAN GUIDE ARE VERY CAREFUL OF WHAT THEY SAY TO YOU AND NEVER IN OPEN SPACE..

.PUBLIC SPACE AS MANY UNDERCOVER AGENT ARE THEIR TO MAKE SURE THEY GIVE THE RIGHT MESSAGE TO THE FOREIGNERS! yOU LEARN TO RECOGNISE THEM...
THE CHINESE TOURISTS WHO WHERE THERE CAME WITH EITHER THEIR GUIDE...FROM BEIJING,SHANGHAI OR WHERE EVER SO THAT THEY GOT ...THE RIGHT MESSAGE...

IF YOU ARE CHINESE AND DID NOT COME WITH A GUIDE...NOT LIKELY AS YOU HAVE TO HAVE A SPECIAL PERMIT TO VISIT TIBET....THEY WILL GIVE YOU A HAN GUIDE...SO AGAIN YOU WILL GET THE RIGHT MESSAGE.

MANY CHINESE DO NOT KNOW THAT TIBET WAS INDEPENDANT OF CHINA...THEY ARE VERY SURPRISED WHEN YOU TELL THEM THIS...THEY ARE TOLD THAT TIBET WAS ALAWAYS PART OF CHINA...
BRAINWASHING IS WELL AND ALIVE IN CHINA!

Snezana M.

3:48AM PDT on May 2, 2011

KrassiAWAY B.

1:53PM PDT on May 1, 2011

Sad story.

May H.

12:57PM PDT on May 1, 2011

John S.

9:39AM PDT on May 1, 2011

Thanks, shame it's been this long.

Marianne G.

2:39AM PDT on May 1, 2011

Thanks for sharing

Dave C.

7:31AM PDT on Apr 30, 2011

How sad the story of the Tibetan people has been this past 50/60 years. Have been blessed to know people from both China and Tibet over the years...the difference always seems to be the Tibetans are humble and concerned about the whole world, the Chinese more concerned about their appearance and stature...may the Chinese government learn some confidence that allows them to show compassion and allow a free Tibet in the future...