Dharamsala, April 25 – Hundreds of Tibetans, including monks, nuns and students, along with their foreign supporters, took out a protest march here today. They were demanding the release of the 11th Panchen Lama who turned 15 today. Gedhun Cheoki Nyima, who has been recognised by the Dalai lama as the 11th Panchen Lama, was taken under protective custody by the Chinese authorities in 1995, immediately after his recognition . He was six-year-old then. Since then his whereabouts are not known.
In a joint statement released today, the National Democratic Party of Tibet, the Tibetan Women’s Association and the Tibetan Youth Congress appealed to the international community and the United Nations to put pressure on Beijing for the release of the Panchen Lama.
