Press Release - 17 May 2005

On the 10th anniversary of the abduction of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, Tibet's 11th Panchen Lama (one of Tibet's most important religious figures), Free Tibet Campaign is calling on the UK Government to demand the Chinese authorities allow international observers to verify the well-being of 16 year old Nyima. He was taken into what China claims is "protective custody" a decade ago today, at the age of six, and has not been seen since. Despite numerous attempts to learn of his whereabouts and welfare, his captors refused all requests for information.

"It is time for the international community to act," said Yael Weisz-Rind, Campaigns Manager of Free Tibet Campaign. "China reveals its total lack of respect for both the spirit and the letter of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which it has signed and ratified, by kidnapping such a young innocent child. Its policy on Freedom of Religion in Tibet, through systematic interference and oppressive attempts to control Tibetan ancient religion traditions, is a continuous violation of fundamental rights. China has been permitted for too long to be unaccountable for these actions."

As the UK Government prepares for the next round of UK-China dialogue and its assuming of the EU Presidency, Free Tibet Campaign is calling for the adoption of an affirmative position regarding Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and the human rights situation in Tibet. Similar concerns were expressed in a recent statement, in March 2005, by the European Commissioner for External Relations, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, over China's continued detention of the young Panchen Lama, "We are also still waiting, in spite of continuous requests, for information on the whereabouts of the Dalai-Lama's choice as the 11th Panchen Lama, Gendun Choekyi Nyima." After a decade of futile efforts, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Jack Straw, and the newly appointed Foreign and Commonwealth Minister, Ian Pearson, must address China's cynical tactics of evading any resolution of those issues.

Dozens of vigils for the Panchen Lama involving thousands of Tibet supporters worldwide are being held in at least 21 countries today, including the UK. Tibet campaigners will be gathering expressions of support for the Panchen Lama to be sent to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, which meets with China in September. They are specifically asking the Committee to ensure that China does not escape accountability for the grave injustices perpetrated against the 11th Panchen Lama.

The Global Vigil for Tibet's Panchen Lama, organised by the International Tibet Support Network (ITSN), will travel through the world's time zones. It will begin in the Asia-Pacific region in Wellington, New Zealand at 7.00am local time, followed by Australia, India and Nepal, through Israel and Europe with vigils in Poland, Sweden, Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, the UK and Ireland, across the Atlantic to the Americas with vigils in Brazil and Venezuela, Canada, Mexico and the USA east-coast to end with a vigil in San Francisco, USA west-coast at 7.00pm (local time). Free Tibet Campaign is also launching an art competition as part of an international competition, "Stolen Words, Forbidden Images", to enable young people across the world to contribute to the Tibetan cause through their creative skills.

Background to the Campaign

On 15 May 1995, six year old Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was recognised by the Dalai Lama as the reincarnation of the 10th Panchen Lama, one of Tibet's most important religious leaders who died in 1989. Two days after the Dalai Lama's announcement, the boy and his parents were taken under escort from their home to Beijing and have not been seen since.

Four months later, the Chinese authorities selected Gyaltsen Norbu, a boy from the same area of Tibet as Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, to be Panchen Lama. Norbu has been educated away from Tashilhunpo Monastery, home of the Panchen Lama, and since 1996 he has only returned occasionally for brief visits.

The replacement of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima by Gyaltsen Norbu ensures the Panchen Lama's education is controlled by Beijing; but it also has far-reaching effects on the political and spiritual future of Tibet. The Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama are usually involved in each other's spiritual education and have at times been involved in appointing each other's reincarnation, which means that when the 14th Dalai Lama dies, the identification of his reincarnation will be even more fraught with controversy.

Determined to control and suppress religion in Tibet, the Chinese authorities infringe upon Tibetan religious traditions. Since the abduction, the Chinese authorities have consistently denied requests from United Nations bodies and governments for access to Gedhun and his parents, claiming that he was leading a normal life and did not want to be disturbed.

UN Committee on the Rights of the Child

In September 2005, China will appear again before the Committee on the Rights of the Child to report on the promotion and protection of rights of children in China. Tibet Support Groups will raise the case of the Panchen Lama at this hearing and demand that the Committee ensures that it obtains access to the Panchen Lama in order to ascertain his current situation. We will also ask the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, and UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, and other UN officials to ensure the immediate and unconditional release of the Panchen Lama.