Take Action on the 20th birthday of the Panchen Lama April 25, 2009
Gendhun Choekyi Nyima
was kidnapped by the Chinese authorities just 2 months after he was
officially recognized in 1995 as the 11th Panchen Lama, one of Tibet's most
important religious leaders. He and his family have been held under house arrest ever since.
Shortly after Gendhun Choekyi Nyima's detention, the Chinese government installed another young boy, Gyaincain Norbu, in his place. For many years this puppet Panchen Lama was kept hidden, but in recent months, Chinese authorities have used Gyaltsen Norbu as a mouthpiece for their propaganda campaign against the Dalai Lama.
On Friday, April 25th, Gendhun Choekyi Nyima will turn 20 years old. His detention is purely political and a means for the Chinese government to further control Tibetans' culture and religion. Please take action for his release!
ACTION IDEAS
Send a letter to the Chinese government demanding his release. Print and mail your letter to the relevant Chinese authorities (including the Chinese consulate or embassy nearest you).
Ask people in your community to send birthday greetings to the Panchen Lama. Buy a batch of cards and ask people to add personal messages or supply the materials for people to make their own cards. Please send cards to the Chinese embassy or consulate nearest you or mail them c/o China's Ambassador to the United Nations.
Display posters of the Panchen Lama in your city or town. Raise awareness of his plight by plastering his image everywhere, especially near Chinese embassies and consulates.
Click here to download 'Free the Panchen Lama' poster (colour) Click here to download 'Free the Panchen Lama' poster (black and white)
Panchen Lama Viral Image Action. Make the Panchen Lama image your Facebook/Myspace/Hi-5 profile image and “Post a Note” calling for China to immediately release him on your Facebook page. Make sure to ask all your Facebook friends to do the same.
In 1995, at age 6, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was recognized by His Holiness
the Dalai Lama as the 11th reincarnation of the Panchen Lama, Tibet's
second most important spiritual leader. Shortly thereafter, the young
child and his family were detained by the Chinese authorities.
The
Chinese government's motives for keeping Gendhun Choekyi Nyima under
house arrest are purely political and a means for further controlling
Tibetans' religion and culture. China's atheist government has
installed a different child, Gyaltsen Norbu, in his place.
Historically, the Panchen Lama has played a pivotal role in identifying
the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, and vice versa.
Shortly after Gendhun Choekyi Nyima's detention, the Chinese government installed another young boy, Gyaincain Norbu, in his place.The Chinese government continues to meddle ruthlessly in Tibetan Buddhist affairs in an attempt to exert political and social control over Tibetans through the religious institutions at the center of Tibetan life. To date, China has denied all requests from the international community to see Gendhun Choeyki Nyima, the real Panchen Lama; his whereabouts remain unknown. Tibetans and
supporters worldwide call for the immediate release of Gedhun Choekyi
Nyima and for his return to his rightful seat in Tashilhunpo Monastery.
