Tibetans demand release of Panchen Lama

Mysore/Mysuru: Marking 31 years since the abduction of Tibet’s 11th Panchen Lama Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, Tibetans, under the banner of Middleway Tibetan Youth Congress and Regional Tibetan Women’s Association from Bylakuppe, Hunsur and Kollegal and Mysore Tibetan Students’ Association staged a protest in city this morning demanding the Chinese authorities to release Panchen Lama, innocent Tibetan religious heads and political prisoners immediately.

The protesters said that Panchen Lama was abducted by the Chinese authorities in 1995 when Panchen Lama was just six years old. It has been 31 years since he was abducted and there is no information about Panchen Lama since then. The protesters expressed deep concern over his well-being and religious education, emphasising his vital role in Tibetan spiritual hierarchy.

The protesters also condemned the continued repression under Chinese rule, citing that more than 2,500 political prisoners remain in detention and 166 Tibetans have self-immolated in protest and urged the UN Human Rights Committee to intervene and press China for answers regarding the Panchen Lama’s whereabouts.