Bylakuppe: The Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in Bylakuppe  recently celebrated the 28th birthday of the 11th Panchen Lama — Jetsun Tenzin Gedhun Yeshi Trinley Phuntsok Pal Sangpo, or Gedhun Choekyi Nyima.

Sakya Gongma Rinpoche, the 41st Sakya Trizin, was the chief guest while Choephel Thupten, Chief Representative, South Zone, Central Tibetan Administration, was the special guest.

The Tashi Lhunpo Monastery’s Acting Abbott, Zigyab Rinpoche,  delivering the official statement, highlighted the significance of the seat of the Panchen Lama and called upon the supporters around the world to continue to pressurise the Chinese Government for the immediate release of the 11th Panchen Lama.

“China’s complete disregard for the age-old Tibetan religious and historical tradition of the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama recognising each other’s incarnations and the Chinese government’s appointment of a fake Panchen Lama to further their political designs for the Tibetan people have greatly hurt the sentiments of the Tibetan people and freedom-loving people of this world,” Zigyab Rinpoche said.

Immediately after the 14th Dalai Lama publicly recognised Gedun Choekyi Nyima as the 11th Panchen Lama in May 1995, the Chinese authorities kidnapped the then six-year-old boy, making him the world’s youngest political prisoner. The 11th Panchen Lama and Chadrel Rinpoche, the Abbott of the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery and Head of the Search Committee for the 11th Panchen Lama, have both been under Chinese custody since their capture in 1995 and have remained missing for 22 long years.

The Monks of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery offered prayers for the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama. The Sakya Gongma Rinpoche, Choephel Thupten and the Representative of the Tibetan Dickey Larsoe Settlement too addressed the gathering.

Kunchok Tenzin proposed a vote of thanks, after which the monks and the public offered silk scarves to the portrait of His Holiness the Panchen Lama.