21st Birthday of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, 11th Panchen Lama of Tibet

Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was recognized at age six by His Holiness the Dalai Lama as the reincarnation of the 10^th Panchen Lama but soon after he was recognized, the Chinese authorities kidnapped this young boy and his family on May 17, 1995 just days after he was recognised as the 11th Panchen Lama of Tibet.

Despite repeated appeals to gain access to him, no international agency or human rights organization has been granted contact with Gedhun or his family and their well-being and whereabouts remain unconfirmed.

On 25 April 2010, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima will turn 21 years old; it will be his fifteenth birthday since his disappearance.

Please Take Action for his release and send the message below to Minister of the United Front Work Department, Du Qinglin (please note that the email system will automatically insert the salutatio

Subject: Birthday message for Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, Tibet’s 11th Panchen Lama Your Letter:  

Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, Tibet's 11th Panchen Lama, will turn 21 on 25 April 2010. He and his family have been missing since the Chinese authorities abducted them in May 1995, when Gedhun was just six years old.

Despite numerous requests by foreign diplomats and United Nations representatives for verification of his well-being and whereabouts, no access has been given to Gedhun or his family for almost 15 years.   

Most recently Padma Choling, Governor of the Tibet Autonomous Region, stated "As far as I know, his family and he are now living a very good life in Tibet". To confirm this, we call on you to allow an independent expert to visit and verify the wellbeing of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and also to verify that he and his family are free to travel wherever they wish. 

We also urge you to deliver the message below to Gedhun on the occasion of his 21st  birthday.  

"21st Birthday Greetings to you, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, 11th Panchen Lama of Tibet. Our thoughts are often with you and we long to see you free."