Statement of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery on the Panchen Lama's 25th Birthday

Here are statements by Tashi Lhunpo Monastery on the the occasion of the Panchen Lama's 25th birthday in English and Tibet.

OFFICIAL STATEMENT BY THE TASHI LHUNPO MONASTERY ON THE 25TH BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS HOLINESS THE 11TH PANCHEN LAMA

25 April 2014, Bylakuppe

Today, we are gathered here to observe the auspicious 25th birthday of His Holiness the 11th Panchen Lama in an event organized by the Central Tibetan Administration's (CTA) Regional Organising Committee of the 25th Birth Anniversary of the 11th Panchen Lama.

On behalf of the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery and the Central Association of His Holiness the Panchen Lama, I extend a warm welcome to our most esteemed guests:

• His Eminence Gaden Tripa Rizong Sey Rinpoche, Head of the Gelugpa School of Tibetan Buddhism

• Mr. Penpa Tsering, Honorable Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile

• Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay, the democratically elected political head of the CTA

• His Eminence Lochen Rinpoche

• Abbots and monks of different monastic schools

• Chief Representative Officer of South Zone

• Settlement officers of the old and new settlements in Bylakuppe

• Heads of various schools and institutions of learning

• Members of the public

  
  

The Birth of the 11th Panchen Lama

Today marks 25 years since His Holiness the 11th Panchen Lama, Jetsun Tenzin Gedhun Yeshi Trinley Phuntsok Pal Sangpo, was born in Lhari County, Nagchu, Tibet, to Kunchok Phuntsok and Dechen Choedon.

On this auspicious day, the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, on behalf of Tibetans everywhere, with immense veneration, wishes for the good health and happiness of the 11th Panchen Lama and offers prayers for his well-being.

The Historical Role of the Panchen Lamas

It is a well-known fact that the Panchen Lama has always been an important figure in Tibet's spiritual and political history.

Historically, all the Panchen Lamas have made tremendous contributions to the spread and propagation of Tibetan Buddhism while simultaneously working for the well-being of all sentient beings.

The 10th Panchen Lama, in particular, was renowned for his fearlessness and role in ensuring the welfare of the Tibetan people during one of Tibet's darkest periods. A harsh critic of the Chinese government's policies in Tibet, he was relentless in his efforts to seek redress for atrocities committed against the Tibetan people.

As a result, he suffered fourteen long years of imprisonment and was subjected to severe mental and physical torture at the hands of the Chinese government.

Despite these hardships, the 10th Panchen Lama remained unwavering in his efforts to improve the social, economic, political, and environmental conditions in Tibet and to promote and revive the Tibetan language, religion, and culture.

The Death of the 10th Panchen Lama and Conditions in Tibet

In 1989, the 10th Panchen Lama passed away under mysterious circumstances at the age of 52 after delivering a public speech sharply critical of Chinese government policies.

Over the subsequent twenty-five years, Tibetans have witnessed:

• A deterioration of political, economic, and social conditions in Tibet

• Intensified efforts to eradicate Tibetan culture, language, and religion

• Increased restrictions on religious freedom

• Continued human rights violations

• Growing economic and social inequality

Today, we remember the 10th Panchen Lama's greatness, foresight, wisdom, sacrifices, and courage, and offer prayers for the fulfillment of his aspirations and vision for Tibet.

The Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama: “The Sun and Moon”

Tibetans have traditionally referred to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and His Holiness the Panchen Lama as the “Sun and Moon.”

This reflects the unique spiritual relationship in which each plays a key role in recognizing the other's reincarnation and ensuring the continuation of religious education and leadership.

Following this historical tradition, on 14 May 1995, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama publicly announced Gedhun Choekyi Nyima as the rightful reincarnation of the 10th Panchen Lama.

Only three days later, Chinese authorities abducted:

• The six-year-old Gedhun Choekyi Nyima

• His parents

• Chadrel Jampa Trinley Rinpoche, then Abbot of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery and head of the Search Committee for the 11th Panchen Lama

• Others associated with the recognition process

Ignoring the religious wishes of the Tibetan people, the Chinese government instead appointed Gyaltsen Norbu, another boy from Nagchu, as the 11th Panchen Lama.

Nineteen Years of Disappearance

Since their abduction in 1995, the world has neither seen nor heard from the 11th Panchen Lama and Chadrel Rinpoche.

Their whereabouts remain unknown.

The Chinese government's assurances regarding their well-being remain questionable because no concrete evidence has been provided over the past nineteen years to substantiate such claims.

Despite repeated appeals from:

• United Nations human rights bodies

• International organizations

• Governments

• Civil society groups

Chinese authorities have refused requests to allow an independent observer to meet the Panchen Lama and verify his condition.

A Birthday Marked by Concern and Sadness

As such, it is with great concern and sadness that we observe the 25th birthday of the 11th Panchen Lama.

Over the past nineteen years, the young Panchen Lama—once described as the world's youngest political prisoner—has become a twenty-five-year-old adult under Chinese custody.

His continued disappearance highlights the absence of:

• Basic human rights

• Child rights

• Religious freedom

for Tibetans living in Tibet.

The experiences of both the previous and current Panchen Lamas stand as testimony to the Chinese government's efforts to control every aspect of Tibetan life, a situation that has contributed to the self-immolation protests.

Self-Immolation Protests and the Tibetan Struggle

Over recent years, more than one hundred Tibetans in Tibet and exile have sacrificed their lives by self-immolation in protest against Chinese policies.

The self-immolators were united in calling for:

• Freedom for Tibetans

• The return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama

• The release of the Panchen Lama

Tibetans have long embraced non-violence, inspired by religious principles and Tibetan cultural values.

However, Tibetans have increasingly been driven toward desperate forms of protest.

The statement argues that if Chinese authorities continue to ignore these appeals, Tibetans may be pushed toward even more radical forms of resistance, creating greater instability and challenges.

Therefore, the Chinese government is urged to pursue a peaceful resolution through the Middle Way Approach proposed by the Dalai Lama, which seeks a mutually beneficial outcome for both Tibetans and Chinese.

Appreciation for the Central Tibetan Administration

This year, the Central Tibetan Administration organized this event to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the birth of the 11th Panchen Lama.

Given the Panchen Lama's political, spiritual, and historical significance, this initiative is regarded as both important and necessary.

Tibetans inside and outside Tibet welcome this effort and express gratitude to the CTA, viewing it as one of Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay's significant achievements.

Gratitude to Supporters Worldwide

We are also grateful to all individuals and organizations—governmental and non-governmental alike—that have tirelessly campaigned for the release of:

• The Panchen Lama

• Chadrel Rinpoche

• Other political prisoners

We thank you for your support and urge you to continue this effort until our goal is achieved.

Conclusion

We pray for a swift, just, and peaceful resolution of the Tibetan issue.

We pray for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama.

And we earnestly await the day when the Tibetan people's Sun and Moon will once again be reunited in Tibet.