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Panchen Lama Missing PDF print email
Written by Jelena   
Monday, 16 March 2009 15:55


Gendun Cheokyi Nyima, now 18 years old, was named Panchen Lama aged five but has not been seen in public since.
The Chinese authorities rejected his appointment and named their own Panchen Lama, Gyaltsen Norbu, in 1995.
Beijing says Gendun is living a free life but campaigners say he has been under house arrest during childhood.
Kate Saunders, who represents a Washington-based group, the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT), said little was known about his whereabouts.
"It's most likely that he's being held somewhere in the vicinity of Beijing itself because that's where the authorities could probably control him the best.
"But there's no doubt that it will be in a very secure environment," she said.
'Religious persecution'
The ICT has produced a report on religious freedom to coincide with the birthday of Gendun Cheokyi Nyima.

Gyaltsen Norbu was appointed by Beijing as Panchen Lama in 1995
The report says Tibetan religious culture remains under grave threat more than half a century after Chinese troops occupied the region.
It accuses the Chinese authorities of launching a new campaign to curb the influence in Tibet of the Dalai Lama, who lives in exile in northern India.
Ms Saunders says the Panchen Lama who disappeared is a victim of China's attempts to control Tibetan religious thinking.
"His plight and also the installation of an alternative candidate by Beijing has come to symbolise for many Tibetans the crisis facing the survival of their religious culture in Tibet."
The Chinese foreign ministry has angrily rejected the accusations of religious persecution in Tibet.
A spokesman said Tibetans were guaranteed normal religious freedoms, but he refused to reveal where Gendun Cheokyi Nyima was living.
Campaigners hope the boy's 18th birthday may change the approach of the Chinese authorities to his situation.
Tags: Year: 2008 Location: Asia Category: Protest and Persuassion Category: NonCooperation Category: NonViolent Intervention Protest and Persuassion: Public Speeches Protest and Persuassion: Letters of opposition or support Protest and Persuassion: Declarations by organizations and institutions Protest and Persuassion: Signed public statements Protest and Persuassion: Declarations of indictment and intention Protest and Persuassion: Group or mass petitions Protest and Persuassion: Slogans, caricatures, and symbols Protest and Persuassion: Banners, posters, displayed communications Protest and Persuassion: Leaflets, pamphlets, and books Protest and Persuassion: Newspapers and journals Protest and Persuassion: Records, radio, and television Protest and Persuassion: IT messaging - Mass SMS and e-mailing Protest and Persuassion: Group lobbying Protest and Persuassion: Picketing Protest and Persuassion: Displays of flags and symbolic colors Protest and Persuassion: Wearing of symbols Protest and Persuassion: Prayer and worship Protest and Persuassion: Delivering symbolic objects Protest and Persuassion: Symbolic lights Protest and Persuassion: Displays of portraits Protest and Persuassion: Paint as protest Protest and Persuassion: Symbolic sounds Protest and Persuassion: Symbolic reclamations Protest and Persuassion: Taunting officials Protest and Persuassion: Fraternization Protest and Persuassion: Vigils Protest and Persuassion: Performances of plays and music Protest and Persuassion: Singing Protest and Persuassion: Marches Protest and Persuassion: Parades Protest and Persuassion: Religious processions Protest and Persuassion: Pilgrimages Protest and Persuassion: Political mourning Protest and Persuassion: Homage at burial places Protest and Persuassion: Assemblies of protest or support Protest and Persuassion: Protest meetings Protest and Persuassion: Teach-ins Methods of NonCooperation: Flight of workers Methods of NonCooperation: Sanctuary Methods of NonCooperation: Collective disappearance Methods of NonCooperation: Protest emigration [hijrat] Methods of NonCooperation: National consumers' boycott Methods of NonCooperation: International consumers' boycott Methods of NonCooperation: Protest strike Methods of NonCooperation: Withholding or withdrawal of allegiance Methods of NonCooperation: Refusal to accept appointed officials Methods of NonCooperation: Refusal to dissolve existing institutions Methods of NonCooperation: Nonobedience in absence of direct supervision Methods of NonCooperation: Popular nonobedience Methods of NonCooperation: Disguised disobedience Methods of NonCooperation: Refusal of an assemblage or meeting to disperse Methods of NonCooperation: Sit-down Methods of NonCooperation: Hiding, escape, and false identities Methods of NonCooperation: Civil disobedience of Methods of NonCooperation: Stalling and obstruction Methods of NonCooperation: Changes in diplomatic and other representations Methods of NonCooperation: Withholding of diplomatic recognition NonViolent Intervention: Self-exposure to the elements NonViolent Intervention: Fast of moral pressure NonViolent Intervention: Hunger strike NonViolent Intervention: Sit-in NonViolent Intervention: Stand-in NonViolent Intervention: Pray-in NonViolent Intervention: Establishing new social patterns NonViolent Intervention: Speak-in NonViolent Intervention: Alternative social institutions NonViolent Intervention: Reverse strike NonViolent Intervention: Selective patronage NonViolent Intervention: Alternative markets NonViolent Intervention: Alternative economic institutions NonViolent Intervention: Seeking imprisonment NonViolent Intervention: Dual sovereignty and parallel government

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Last Updated on Monday, 16 March 2009 15:57
 
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