Today marks the 29th anniversary of the abduction of the 11th Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, by the People’s Republic of China (PRC). As one of the most significant figures in Tibetan Buddhism, his disappearance as a six-year-old child continues to resonate deeply within the Tibetan community. Despite numerous calls for transparency, Nyima has not been seen in public since his abduction and access to him has been consistently denied by the PRC government. Instead, a state-selected proxy is promoted as an alternative.
The United States has expressed its support for Tibetans' human rights and their exercise of those rights in relation to their unique religious, cultural, and linguistic identity. It maintains that Tibetans, like members of all religious communities, should have the freedom to select, educate, and venerate their own leaders such as the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama according to their beliefs without government interference.
In light of these circumstances, there is an urgent call for PRC authorities to immediately account for Gedhun Choekyi Nyima’s whereabouts and well-being. Furthermore, it is imperative that he be allowed to fully exercise his human rights in accordance with the PRC's international commitments.
