The Tibet Museum
Gedhum Choekyi Nyima, identified as the reincarnation of Panchen Lama, at 6 years
Tibetans around the world recall the 30th anniversary of Panchen Lama disappear. Gedhum Choekyi Nyima, identified as the 11th incarnation of the Buddhist spiritual leader, was kidnapped by the Chinese authorities at age 6 – and his whereabouts are unknown to this day.
On May 14, 1995, the Dalai oldspiritual leader of the exiled Tibetan Buddhists, acknowledged a 6 -year -old boy, Gedhum Choekyi Nyimalike the reincarnation of Old panchenthe safe figure most important in the hierarchy of the Tibetan religion.
Panchen Lama is considered a Buddha Incarnation Amitabha and plays a crucial role in identifying the next Dalai Lama. His figure is of great importance to Tibetans and is involved in political and religious issues.
On May 17, three days after being identified as the new Panchen Lama, the boy, at the time 6 years, Mysteriously disappeared. Since then, there has been no news about your whereabouts or destination.
As Chinese authorities admit to knowing where is nyimabut have so far provided very little information about Tibetan, which will be 36 today. In a recent contact, he asked her to the Chinese government information about the current situation of Panchen Lama.
The Chinese embassy in London replied that the individual in question is only A common Chinese citizenliving a normal life. “Neither he nor his family want to undergo unnecessary public attention,” added the embassy, who asked the BBC that “Revallated to proceed with the report”.
In a statement issued in 2020, the authorities revealed that Nyima had graduated at the university, had a job And that he and his family didn’t want to no one would disturb their “current normal lives”.
Tibet, mostly Buddhistis governed as an autonomous region of China, which is accused of repress cultural and religious freedom in the territory.
Over the years, several human rights groups, which describe Nyima as “The youngest political prisoner in the world“They have consistently supported Tibetan calls to be released.
When did you disappear?
Tibetan Buddhists believe in reincarnationand that people with greater spiritual breadth can decide When and where this will happen.
After Death of Choekyi Gyaltsen, the 10th Panchen Lamaon January 28, 1989, in suspicious circumstances (some believe it was poisoned)the Tibetans started the process of identification of your reincarnation.
At the time, a commission led by a senior monk identified reincarnation Chumtar’s workes are too who’ll must be incent for thehare cottive that’s find about the ritu;
A detailed document presented by society for threatened peoples, a non-governmental organization of advisory character linked to the UN Secretariat-General, accuses the Chinese government of having kidnapped the whole family of Nyima and to have detained the responsible monk for leading the process of identifying the reincarnation of Panchen Lama.
The Tibetan government, exiled since 1959 in the Indian city of Dharamsala, describes Nyima’s disappearance as one of the “most glaring examples of the bass human rights violations committed by China“.
“Since then, their whereabouts and condition are still unknown, under the secret of state. We appeal to the Chinese government reveals the location of Panchen Lama and guarantee its well-being,” he said Tenzin Lekshayspokesman for Tibetan central administration-who No country recognizes formally as a government in exile.
Shortly after Nyima’s disappearance, China told a UN commission There was no case of disappearance or kidnapping of the family of the reincarnated child.
The following year, however, the Chinese authorities claimed that “some unscrupulous souls” would have tried to smuggle the boy abroadand that the parents had “ORDER GOVERNMENT PROTECTION”Chinese.
Beijing has since maintains the position that the boy and his family have a normal life and do not want to be bothered, reaffirmed in 2015when 20 years of his disappearance were fulfilled, by a Chinese senior officer – in what he called him “A rare admission of Nyima’s destination“.
“False Panchen” gives China
To China, who is refuses to recognize Panchen Lama Named by Dalai Lama, In the meantime, he chose his own candidate, Gyaltsen Norbuwhich designated in 1995 as 11th Panchen Lama.
Although Norbu participates in Communist Party conferences and official Chinese government events, he has no popular support among Tibetans, who often call him “False panchen“.
On the other hand, Nyima is recognized by most Tibetans as their spiritual leader – despite being prohibited throughout Tibeta territory the dissemination of photographs of Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama.
There is only one photograph of the boy in circulation, taken at age 6, shortly before it was “kidnapped by the authorities.”
The Tibet Museum
Gedhum Choekyi Nyima’s only known photograph was taken when the boy was 6
Em 2000, Robin Cookthen United Kingdom Secretary of Foreign Affairs, revealed that China had shown some British officers two photographs of a boy who would be the missing Panchen mud. The British were allowed to see the photographs, but not to stay with them.
What is the importance of Panchen Lama?
In the hierarchy of Tibetan Buddhism, Panchen Lama is immediately below Dalai Lama, which fled from Tibeto in 1959 and became a symbol of resistance to the control of China in the region.
Discovering the fate of the missing boy is increasingly importantgiven the age of Dalai Lama, who turns 90 on July 6 this year – since the two spiritual leaders are responsible for recognizing reincarnation of each other.
Second Yalkun luyoolresearcher at Human Rights Watch, the Chinese government “hijacked a 6 -year -old boy and his family, who has been missing for 30 years, to Control the choice of next Dalai Lama and thus from Tibetan Buddhism. ”
“Everyone who cares about the future of Tibet and its religious freedom should Press the Chinese government to end this cruelty And guarantee the safety and freedom of Gendun Choki Nyima and his family, ”says Uluyol.
For many Tibetans, the uncertainty about Panchen Lama’s fate is a traumatic experience. Tibetan communities in India and Europe continue to organize protests and appeals to their release.
“It hurts to imagine that he has been in prison for 30 years. We pray and make protests every day to be released. For the Tibetan people, he is not just a spiritual leader, but A hope for the future of Tibet“Says the Tibetan activist and writer Tenzin Places.
“I think he’s alive and I hope to see you“He said, adding that he believes that China will use his figure to control the narrative of Dalai Lama’s upcoming reincarnation.
The absence of Panchen Lama is deeply felt For the Tibetans, says Tsundue. “The 10th Panchen Lama played a crucial role in preserving the Tibetan language, religion and cultural heritage under the rules of China. Your voice and vision They are sorely missed in today’s Tibet“.
