By Wasfia Nazreen
April 25th, Dharamsala: On the occasion of the eighteenth birth anniversary of one of the most revered spiritual figures of Tibet, the eleventh Panchen Lama as recognized by His Holiness the fourteenth Dalai Lama, hundreds gathered at the courtyard of Tsugla Khang Temple earlier this morning. Mr. Sonam Topgyal, former Prime Minister of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile, was the Chief Guest of the function.
This Solar Circulation officially makes His Holiness the Panchen Lama, Gendun Choekyi Nyima, an adult. This means he is legally allowed to be in charge of himself under Chinese or International law. With the belief and hope that he is healthy in his being, the turn of today has systematically made him mature enough to take own actions and decide whether or not he needs ‘protective custody’ as supposedly provided by the Communist Party of China. The world still waits with unbroken patience regarding details of his whereabouts.
Following the commemoration ceremony, four NGOs: Gu Chu Sum ex-Political Prisoner’s Movement, Regional Tibetan Women’s Association, Student for a Free Tibet and Regional Tibetan Youth Congress, came together to hold the ‘Run for Panchen Lama’ marathon within the vicinity of Dharamsala. Young students from Upper and Lower TCV School, Dharamsala as well as older denizens, took part in this marathon which had prize money for the winners within different categories.
The demands made by the NGOs through a press-release for this marathon are:
- Proof of the Chinese Government to the international community regarding the existence and well being of the Panchen Lama along with his parents and Chadrel Rinpoche, the lama who was pivotal in the search for the new re-incarnation, revealing their whereabouts backed by latest photos.
- Allow, in the next few months, visits to them by representatives of established human rights organizations including those of United Nations, Amnesty International and other reputed NGOs.
- Release and allow the eleventh Panchen Lama to come before the international community as an adult to speak on his own behalf.
As part of the day-long activities held in memory of this prolonged trial against conscious oppression, there is a concert organized by the Regional Tibetan Women’s Association to be held later tonight at TIPA, Dharamsala at 6:30pm.
