US urges China to reveal whereabouts of Tibet's 11th Panchen Lama on his 33rd birthday

On 33rd birthday of 11th Panchen Lama which is on April 25, United States has urged People's Republic of China (PRC) on Monday to clarify his whereabouts, which has remained unkwn since 1995. In a press statement, US State Department spokesperson Ned Price ted, "Today marks 33rd birthday of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, 11th Panchen Lama, who remains missing since PRC authorities abducted him as a six-year-old child on May 17, 1995". 

According to statement, Ned Price revealed that US has demanded an explanation of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima's whereabouts and well-being, and furr urged to allow him full liberty to exercise his human rights and basic freedoms in accordance with PRC's international obligations. 

Furrmore, Price stated that PRC continues to deny Tibetans access to Panchen Lama, second most respected individual in Tibetan Buddhism, as identified by Dalai Lama, and inste promotes a state-selected surrogate. 

In dition to this, Tibetans' religious freedom, as well as ir unique religious, cultural, linguistic identity, are all supported by United States, including Tibetans' right to choose, educate, and revere ir own leers, such as Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama, as per to ir own belief systems and without government meddling, according to release.  

On May 17, 11th Panchen Lama was kidnapped

Following death of 10th Panchen Lama, Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso and his search team in Tibet began looking for Panchen Lama's reincarnation, and on May 14, 1995, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, a 6 years old Tibetan boy, was accepted as 11th Panchen Lama, according to Tibet Rights Collective. Things took a turn for worst on May 17, when 6-year-old youngster and his family were abducted, ANI reported.  

Apart from US, Central Tibetan ministration (CTA) has petitioned Chinese government on Monday to release 11th Panchen Lama and his family members, who have been held in Chinese detention for 27 years and have t been seen in public since.  CTA's plea comes with 33rd birthday of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, PTI reported.  

CTA claimed in a statement that it plans to convey a strong mess to Beijing that despite China's efforts to remove Nyima from history, globe has t forgotten about him. CTA, also kwn as Tibetan government-in-exile, said in  statement, “We call upon Chinese government to rightfully allow Panchen Lama and his family to live a free life y are entitled to under international laws and treaties that China is obligated to,” PTI reported.  

Meanwhile, on or hand, Chinese authorities have only told world that Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and his family are doing well, according to Tibet Rights Collective.   

(Im: AP)