By Jigme Ugen
St. Paul, Minnesota – Over 350 area Tibetans, human rights advocates and supporters gathered on Saturday, April 29 at the Tibetan Community Hall to observe the 17th birthday of Gendun Choekyi Nyima, His Holiness the Panchen Lama.
Gendun Choekyi Nyima, the world’s youngest political, turned seventeen on Tuesday, April 25, 2006. The Chinese Communist Party abducted Him at the age of six, along with His family and His tutor on May 17, 1995, days after His Holiness the Dalai Lama appointed him the 11th Panchen Lama.
The Panchen Lama has been a religious and political leader of the Tibetan people second only to The Dalai Lama. Since the 17th century The Panchen Lama has acted as Tibet’s religious leader while the reincarnation of The Dalai Lama is being sought, and the older of the two incarnates has been the religious teacher of the younger.
The furious CCP on November 29, 1995, announced that they had found the reincarnation of The Panchen Lama, drawing the name of six-year old Gyaltsen Norbu at random from a golden urn.
The celebration in Minnesota started with Samten Suitang, Joint Secretary MTYC, rendering a heartrending presentation “The Panchen Lama Story” followed by the inspiring documentary “Tibet’s Stolen Child” both of which had audiences gasp at the callousness and insensitiveness of the Chinese government. “Educated Tibetans,” said Tenzin Khenrap, Cultural Secretary of MTYC, “now, that is what the Chinese government fears the most. We have to build power and activism by educating our youth and the world of our plight.”
A panel discussion on “Tibet – Its Issues” brought together an acknowledged group of panelist – Phuntsok Wangdu (President, TAFM), Tenzin Gawa (Ex-President, MTYC), Deden Dolma (President, SFT of St. Cates) and Jigme Ugen (Gen. Secretary, MTYC) for an hour of enlivening discussions.
Then, the monks from the Gyuto Monastery offered prayers and ceremonially cut the birthday cake. A sumptuous Tibetan dinner was served after.
Over dinner was the screening of “Tibet! Tibet!” (the North American premiere), filmed exclusively by Mr. Kim, a third generation Japanese-Korean, on a quest for his identity amongst Tibetans living both in Tibet and in exile. Coca-Cola had sponsored this film for this event. Namgyal Rapten, Sports Secretary MTYC, served as the mc for the evening. The evening ended with the singing of the Tibetan National Anthem.
“This was probably the coolest Tibetan educational event I’ve ever attended,” said Pema, a high school student, “also, one without those long and boring speeches. And, it was free!”
This year’s birthday celebration drew unprecedented attention all over the world, as China had advertised the fake Panchen Lama as the figurehead in the World Buddhist Forum held earlier this month in Hangzhou, eastern China.
Not one international agency or human rights organization has been allowed to meet with The Panchen Lama or His family. The European Union Parliament has unanimously passed a resolution that demands China free Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and recognizes Him as The Panchen Lama. The U.S. Senate has a similar resolution. The UN General Assembly’s Third Committee has condemned the suppression of Tibetan religion by China. Minnesota’s own, the late Senator Paul Wellstone had introduced a resolution on the 13th birthday of The Panchen Lama calling for His release.
This was a free event organized by Minnesota Tibetan Youth Congress and co-supported by the Tibetan American Foundation of Minnesota. [Other celebrations observed on Tuesday, April 25 were organized by TAFM and SFT (St. Cates and Hamline)].
