By Tenzin Monlam
DHARAMSHALA, May 10: The Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) is organizing a cycle rally in honor of the incarcerated 11th Panchen Lama Gendun Choekyi Nyima beginning from Dehradun on May 17, 21 years since his forced disappearance following his recognition by the Dalai Lama as the reincarnation of the 10th Panchen Lama.
With ‘Cycle Rally for Panchen Lama’, the largest pro-independence organization of the Tibetan exiles aims to ‘raise awareness about Panchen Lama’s situation, the condition of Tibetans living under the hardline policies of the Chinese government and show their solidarity to Tibetan brothers and sisters inside Tibet.’
“We seek accurate information about Gedhun Choekyi Nyima’s whereabouts and wellbeing and we urge the United Nations as well as governments of the world to pressure the Chinese government to show us concrete evidence that Panchen Lama is indeed alive and well,” TYC stated in its statement.
The rally scheduled to reach Delhi on May 23 would be participated by around 50 Tibetans from 11 settlements and Sandesh Mishra of Indo-Tibetan Friendship to mark the anniversary of the infamous Seventeen Point agreement.
“Ending the rally on May 23 will highlight our position on the 17 point agreement, which is we do not accept the agreement as it was signed under duress”, Tamdin Hrichoe, TYC Vice President.
Through this cycle rally, TYC also demands China to address the self immolations inside Tibet, to allow a fact finding international delegation to assess the situation inside Tibet and to release all political prisoners. Upon reaching the national capital, the organization plans on having a daylong program on ’17-Point Agreement’.
