Mysuru: Tibetans living in Mysuru district marked the 30th birthday of their second most important spiritual leader 11th Panchen Lama Gedhun Choekyi Nyima,  who was held captive by the Chinese authorities 24 years ago. They took out a peace march from Mysuru to Bengaluru seeking his release yesterday.

MLA S.A. Ramdas and Mayor Pushpalatha Jagannath flagged off the peace march at Kote Anjaneyaswamy Temple.   

Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was abducted by the Chinese government in 1995 when he was six years old, days after he was recognised as the 11th Panchen Lama, the second-highest position in Tibetan Buddhism, by the Dalai Lama. His whereabouts have remained unknown since then while the Chinese government nominated its own 11th Panchen Lama, Gyaltsen Norbu.

But most Tibetans are still loyal to Nyima and hope he is alive. There have been repeated appeals from the international community and Tibetans but nobody has been allowed to contact him or his family. Holding Tibetan flags and sporting white caps and white shawls, the marchers walked, singing hymns, on the roads of city towards Bengaluru.

Speaking on the occasion, MLA Ramdas expressed solidarity with the cause of Tibetans in India and prayed for the success of immediate release of their spiritual leader. He also said that India condemned the aggression of China on Tibet and said India provided shelter to all Tibetan refugees.

B.S. Prashanth of Safe Wheels Tours and Travel, Mysore Hotel Owners Association President C. Narayanagowda, Industrialist Urs and others were present.