China stole a boy... it's time they gave back the man In May 1995, Chinese occupying forces abducted the six year-old Panchen Lama from his home in Tibet. No one there has seen or heard from him since. His abduction was a crime not only against an innocent child, but against the Tibetan nation and its way of life. To mark his 21st birthday on 25th April 2010, Free Tibet asked supporters to sponsor a candle for the Panchen Lama, and held a vigil at Trafalgar Square, making sure more people learned about his plight. Sign the ongoing Panchen Lama petition See photos from the 2010 Panchen Lama vigil Read the Independent's 2007 article: World's youngest political prisoner

Background

Gedhun Choekyi Nyima is recognised by the Dalai Lama as the reincarnation of the Panchen Lama, one of the highest ranking spiritual leaders in Tibet.  At the time of his abduction in 1995 he was six year old, probably the world's youngest political prisoner. He has not been seen or heard from since.

The whereabouts and welfare of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima are still unknown more than 11 years since he was abducted by the Chinese authorities. China defied numerous calls on the case, including one from the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child to "allow an independent expert to visit and confirm the well-being of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima whilst respecting his right to privacy, and that of his parents".

Despite additional calls from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, and the UK through the EU-China and the UK-China Human Rights Dialogues, China maintains that "the so-called Panchen Lama was a normal child, leading a healthy and happy life."

More information on the Panchen Lama:

The 10th Panchen Lama

The previous Panchen Lama (Lobsang Trinley Lhundrup Choekyi Gyaltsen) was sometimes regarded as a controversial figure, but he spoke out against Chinese rule on many occasions and wrote a report chronicling Tibet's famines in the 1960s. As a result of his views the 10th Panchen Lama spent more than 8 years in jail. He died in suspicious circumstances in 1989. He is remembered with great affection by the Tibetan people.

The Abduction

In 1989, following the death of the 10th Panchen Lama, the abbot of Tashilhunpo Monastery, Chadrel Rinpoche, was given the task by Beijing to head the search for the Panchen Lama's reincarnation. Chadrel Rinpoche sent a list of possible candidates to Dharamsala and on 15 May 1995 the Dalai Lama announced that six year old Gedhun Choekyi Nyima had been recognised as the 11th Panchen Lama. The Chinese Government, intending to choose its own candidate, denounced the Dalai Lama's recognition as "illegal and invalid". On 17 May 1995 the Chinese authorities abducted Gedhun and his family. At the time Gedhun was probably the world's youngest political prisoner.

Numerous arrests followed Gedhun's abduction, including Chadrel Rinpoche and his assistant Jampa Chung, who served six year and four year sentences respectively for "selling state secrets" and "colluding with separatist forces abroad". Chadrel Rinpoche was released at the beginning of 2002, though it is believed he remains under house arrest in Lhasa. Jampa Chung should have been released in 2000 though unconfirmed reports in 2003 suggested that he may have remained in some form of custody.

The Replacement

Six months after Gedhun's abduction China announced that it had selected Gyaltsen Norbu, a Tibetan boy from the same region as Gedhun, to become the Panchen Lama. Since his selection Gyaltsen has lived and been educated in Beijing, having only returned to Tibet on three occassions. His visit are carefully stage-managed and heavily policed.

In March 2010, the Chinese government attempted to further subvert religious affairs in Tibet by promoting Gyaltsen Norbu to a key political role, but Tibetans still refer to China's puppet Panchen as the 'Panchen Zuma', or 'false Panchen', and it is unlikely that the plan to replace Gedhun Choekyi Nyima in the hearts and minds of the Tibetan people is unlikely to ever succeed.

Official Statement

In May 1996 China admitted that Gedhun and his family were being held at a secret location. In response to a formal question from the United Nations Committee for the Rights of the Child, China's ambassador to the UN claimed that, "(Gedhun) has been put under the protection of the government at the request of his parents." He did not say where Gedhun was being held. Xinhua reported, "the boy was at risk of being kidnapped by separatists and his security has been threatened."

In February 1998, American clerics visiting Tibet were told than Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was in Beijing, but in March 1998, the Vice Governor of the 'Tibetan Autonomous Region' Yang Chuantang told Austrian delegates that he was actually living in Lhari, the place of his birth. In April 1998, a third location was put forward when a British journalist was told that Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was studying, possibly in Gansu Province.

At a press conference in March 2010, China's Regional Chairman for Tibet, Padma Choling was asked the whereabouts of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and why he disappeared. He stated that Gedhun Choekyi Nyima is being kept out of public view at his own request, and "as far as I know he and his family are now living a good life in Tibet... He and his family are reluctant to be disturbed and want to live an ordinary life." The differing statements confirm little but that Gedhun Choekyi Nyima's location is still unknown. No evidence has been presented to support any of these statements.

The Current Status

The Chinese Government still refuses to reveal Gedhun's whereabouts or accede to the numerous requests from the United Nations and Western governments to allow impartial international observers access to check on his living conditions and well-being.

This obstructive tactic is intended not only to discourage the international campaign but also, China hopes, allow time for their own Panchen Lama to become established and accepted. However, reports from Tibet indicate that Gyaltsen Norbu is not revered by Tibetans as the true Panchen Lama and the only homages made to him are those made under direction from the authorities.

The Political Consequences

The abduction and replacement of the Panchen Lama is part of China's efforts to 'stabilise' Tibet by controlling its religion and breaking the influence of the Dalai Lama. China is well aware of the influence the Panchen Lama can have on Tibetan society. The regard amongst Tibetans for the 10th Panchen Lama increased when he dared to write a report challenging the Chinese authorities for precipitating the famine in Tibet in the 1960s. He served eight years in prison as a result. He also promoted religious freedom in Tibet until he died suspiciously in 1989.

As well as being the second most important figure in the Gelukpa school of Tibetan Buddhism, the Panchen Lama also traditionally recognises the Dalai Lama's reincarnation. There will be far-reaching consequences for Tibet if the recognition of the next Dalai Lama was to come under Chinese Government influence. To this end the Dalai Lama has stated that if he dies in exile his reincarnation will be born in exile and not in Tibet. The Dalai Lama has also stated that the new Tibetan leader may be elected democratically rather than the position be held by the reincarnation of the current Dalai Lama.

The 14th Dalai Lama has stated that "(It is) ultimately up to people, I made clear, whether this very institution should continue or not... If majority of Tibetan people feel the Dalai institution is no longer much relevant, then this institution should cease -- there is no problem."

In reference to China's continuing efforts to subvert Tibetan Buddhism by popularising their own choice of Panchen Lama, the Dalai Lama laughed that "It looks like the Chinese are more concerned about this institution than me."

In March 2010, China's Regional Chairman of Tibet Padma Choling said "right now there is no need to excessively discuss this issue of reincarnation... At this moment the Dalai is still alive, let's wait until he is dead and then we can talk about it."

It is anticipated that China's efforts to propel their choice of Panchen Lama into political positions is an attempt to legitimise his status so that he can 'choose' a new Dalai Lama who has Chinese state approval following the death of the current Dalai Lama. The current Dalai Lama's statements about his reincarnation being born in exile and the next Tibetan leader being democratically elected an annoyance to the Chinese regime as it underlines the progressive nature of the Dalai Lama's philosophy as opposed to the overly controlling approach favoured by Beijing. As with China's choice of Panchen Lama, it is highly unlikely that the Tibetan people or the world at large will accept any state-endorsed Dalai Lama in the future.

Read more about political prisoners in Tibet today.