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NEWS
Statement from Tashi Lhunpo Monastery on the 16th Birthday of Gedun Choekyi Nyima, H.H the 11th Panchen Lama
April 25th 2005
We wish a very Happy 16th Birthday to Gedun Choekyi Nyima, the 11th
Panchen Lama, on 25th April 2005. We cannot celebrate the day with him,
as he is not with us. No one even knows where the Chinese government is
holding him.
In 1995, due to the conflict in recognizing the reincarnation of the
11th Panchen Lama, conflict has emerged in the history of Tibetan and
Chinese relations. In spite of the commencement of fragile contacts
between Tibetan government in exile and Beijing, which took the form of
official visits by delegations of the Tibetan government in exile during
the past ten years, the situation inside Tibet has changed very little.
Even after the dramatic release of long-term prisoners Tanak Jigmey
Sangpo and Ngawang Sangdrol on medical grounds, the issue of the
whereabouts of the 11th Panchen Lama remains totally unsolved.
Despite constant appeals and condemnations from Tashi Lhunpo Monastery,
Tibetans (both inside and outside Tibet) and government and
non-governmental organizations around the world, there has been no
positive reply from the Chinese Government. The issue of Tibet and His
Holiness the Panchen Lama is still neglected and the Chinese regime
constantly tries to divert the attention of international community away
from it.
It has become crystal clear that violation of the freedom of religion,
human rights and freedom for children in Tibet continues, in spite of
the false appearance of a good image presented by the Chinese
government. The improper handling of the Panchen Lama issue by the
Chinese government has aroused doubt and suspicion in the minds of
Tibetans and friends of the Tibetan people from all around the world.
His Holiness the 10th Panchen Lama led a very simple life and remained
strongly concerned with Tibetan culture, traditions, language, religion,
and nationality. He continually tried to eradicate problems facing the
people at the grass roots level. He was a firm believer in regional
autonomy and was always a forerunner in advocating such a rule of law.
With his thorough experience of the condition of Tibetans in Tibet, he
raised his voice many times in favor of reform and development in the
Tibetan community. His ideas were designed to benefit both the Tibetans
and Chinese, and were similar to the "Middle Path Approach" laid out by
His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the Chinese government.
He composed many petition letters such as the "Seventy Thousand Word
Petition," which contained criticisms and suggestions to the Chinese
government about the policies maintained in Tibet. The Chinese leaders
accused him of promoting policies, which went against their ideology.
Certain groups of Tibetan officials - lacking a true knowledge of what
was happening in Tibet - verbally abused the Panchen Lama and humiliated
him in public. They never accepted the views of His Holiness and always
went against his policies of reform. In spite of facing great numbers of
opponents and obstruction from various sections of the community, he
never wavered from his position in which he expressed his views and
concerns for the betterment of the Tibetan people. As a result, he
suffered to the extent of experiencing 10 years imprisonment for the
very sake of the common people and finally even sacrificed his life to
protect the interests of the Tibetan people.
After the conclusion of the era of the 10th Panchen Lama, the Chinese
government, as if to prove their point to the world, built skyscrapers
and large, inappropriate buildings in major cities in Tibet and enlarged
certain main roads. However, the process of destroying the fragile
environment of Tibet continued on a much greater scale. The Chinese
government began to exploit the natural resources of the Yamdog-Yutso
River, and increasingly brutal torture was carried out on prisoners.
More harassment of religious-minded Tibetans was reported and the cost
of living for Tibetans was increased at a marked level due to
discriminatory pricing of healthcare, school fees and other basic
necessities.
In order to work towards their policy of Han communization, schools
throughout Tibet were ordered to remove Tibetan subjects from the
curriculum and timetables were structured to offer only the very minimum
time for the study of Tibetan language and literature. It is possible to
understand from witnessing the continuing policy followed by the Chinese
government, which aims to destroy the very nature and culture of the
Tibetan people, the unimaginable deeds of greatness that are the legacy
of the 10th Panchen Lama.
The process of searching for a reincarnation was carried out in exact
accordance with the traditional systems and aspirations of the Tibetan
people by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tashi Lhunpo Monastery and the
Search Committee. But the Chinese government forcibly disregarded the
reincarnation and turned the issue into a political one. The question of
the Panchen Lama remains - and will remain - the most difficult problem
between Tibet and China. The international community, in its concern for
the welfare of a nation and its people, cannot ignore this situation.
It is important to understand the details of the selection of the
politically motivated, Chinese-appointed version of the Panchen Lama,
Gyaltsen Norbu. The recognition of reincarnations depends on many
aspects including advice from the Oracle of the Deities, pre-indicative
words from his predecessor as well as other things. Moreover, the search
for the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama has always been
done on the basis of the tradition followed by the lineages of the two
lamas whereby each would take the responsibility of searching for the
other's reincarnation.
In 1995, a new issue arose in the history of post-occupied Tibet when
the Chinese abducted the boy proclaimed as the "Real Reincarnation of
the 10th Panchen Lama" by His Holiness the Dalai Lama while putting up a
fake candidate. The monks of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in Tibet expressed
their strong distaste towards the false Panchen Lama and organized
numerous public processions to protest against the abduction of the true
Panchen Lama. The situation grew significantly tenser in Tashi Lhunpo
Monastery and in the region of Shol - the nearby village - and there
were increased armed patrols by the Chinese army.
Chadrel Rinpoche, the principal head of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in Tibet
and some thirty monks and lay people were imprisoned for protesting
against the abduction of the real Panchen Lama. Thirteen monks, whose
term of sentence has long since expired, are still under the custody of
the Chinese army and information about their whereabouts is still
unavailable to their families. After many failed efforts at persuading
the monks and lay people to accept the fake Panchen Lama, the Chinese
government began to expel monks such as Kachen Lobsang Choedak,
high-ranking officials and the main attendants of the 10th Panchen Lama
from the monastery. The immense pressure applied by the Chinese army
even led to the suicide of two monks, Kachen Phurbu Sithar and Wangdue.
In effect, the Chinese government resorted to the most terrifying
tactics to force the Tibetans to respect their version of Panchen Lama
and to quell the protest against the illegal captivity of Gedun Choekyi
Nyima. These events drew the attention of the Chinese people and many
others to the Chinese government's handling of the situation.
Governments and NGOs issued many written and verbal stat condemnation.
From the Chinese government's actions and their interference with the
process of the recognition of the Panchen Lama it is possible to
understand more clearly the state of religious freedom inside Tibet and
the destruction and damage inflicted on the Tibetan people.
We are seeking justice with the help of the international community by
making an appeal to the United Nations and by holding campaigns to bring
awareness of the situation both inside India and throughout the world.
Our activities will not cease until the Chinese government agrees to our
demands. We will continue to oppose strongly and to condemn the use of
force against the Tibetan people. Once again, we insist that the Chinese
government should agree to our five demands:
- Provide exact information about the whereabouts of 11th Panchen Lama, Gedun Choekyi
Nyima.
- Release the 11th Panchen Lama and his parents from detention and give him
opportunity to do his traditional studies with complete freedom.
- Gedun Choekyi Nyima should be officially enthroned at Tashi Lhunpo Monastery on
the seat of His Holiness Panchen Lama, without any restrictions.
- Release Chadrel Rinpoche and Jampa Chung la, along with the restoration of their
previous positions.
- Allow representatives from Tashi Lhunpo Monastery or of the United Nations to make
a fact-finding enquiry into the well-being of Gedun Choekyi Nyima.
We hope to receive a positive response from the Chinese Government in
order to resolve the issue amicably through the proper understanding of
our demands.
On this special day we would like to thank everyone for supporting us in
this campaign to secure the freedom and safety of H.H The Panchen Lama.
Throughout the world there are governments and Non-Governmental
Organizations, friends and supporters of Tibet, as well as organizations
such as International Campaign for Tibet, and The Tibetan Women's
Association all working to achieve a speedy solution of the problem of
the Panchen Lama, Gedun Choekyi Nyima. We offer all who join us in our
campaign our heartfelt thanks and assure you of our deep sense of
appreciation for your support. We request you all to continue to support
us and to work for this just cause.
Finally, we wish a very long life to His Holiness the Dalai Lama; the
leader, the protector and the heart of Tibetans both within Tibet and
outside, and pray that all his dreams are realized. We pray that His
Holiness the Panchen Lama be released from all the misfortunes of his
present situation and be free to set foot in Tibet to bless all
Tibetans.
We wish H.H The Panchen Lama, Gedun Choekyi Nyima, a long life and pray
that a solution will be found to the problems between the Tibetan people
and the Chinese government. We pray for a Free Tibet, which can be held
up as an example to the whole world as a zone of peace.
Tashi Lhunpo Monastery
Tibetan Settlement
Bylakuppe 571104
Mysore, Karnataka INDIA
http://tashilhunpo.org
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