Press Release

The Tibet Bureau, Geneva 20 July 1995

Panchen Lama's Family Held Incommunicado

It has now been confirmed by various sources inside Tibet that the entire family of the 6-year-old Panchen Lama has been "taken away" by the Chinese authorities to Beijing. The parents of the young Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, are 45-year-old Mr Konchok Phuntsog, who was a Doctor at the Lhari District Hospital, and 43-year old Mrs Dechen Chodon, who was a nurse at the same hospital. The Chinese authorities are also holding in custody the elder brother of the Panchen Lama, aged around 20. His brother was recognised as the reincarnation of Drubshah Rinpoche of Drigung Yari Ghang Monastery in 1991, who was a student at this monastery.

However, the Chinese authorities are now said to have been creating false rumours, alleging that the young Panchen Lama has already been taken to India by the Tibetan Government in Exile. The authorities are reportedly apprehensive over the distress of the public on the fate of the young Panchen Lama and are spreading rumours in an attempt to contain outbursts of Tibetan anger in the run up to the "celebration" in September this year of 30th anniversary of the establishment of the so-called "Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR)". Further discussion on the recognition of the young Panchen Lama has been made a criminal offence by the Chinese authorities.

Attempts by the Chinese authorities to get the monks of Tashi Lhunpo monastery, the seat of the Panchen Lama, to reject His Holiness the Dalai Lama's recognition of the reincarnation of the late Panchen Lama are known to have failed. Meetings have been called to coerce and cajole the monks into submitting to Chinese wishes. The Chinese authorities were also said to have offered bribes to the monks to denounce the Dalai Lama's proclamation.

Increased Chinese pressure and intimidation inside the monastery has only succeeded in intensifying Tibetan resentment. Attempts to stage demonstrations have been offset with increased repressive measures, for instance, deployment of policemen and troops around the monastery. Already report has reached the outside world that all foreign tourist have been expelled from Shigatse. Unconfirmed reports state that the town is now virtually under martial law, although no Chinese decree has been issued proclaiming it as such. Despite the intimidation they face, monks at Tashi Lhunpo monastery are openly defying the Chinese authorities at successive meetings where they were called to attend. The monks have reportedly demanded that the young Panchen Lama be allowed to stay at the Tashi Lhunpo monastery to begin his traditional and religious education.

Numerous reports state that wall posters have appeared in several parts of Tibet, condemning the Chinese authorities interference in the Tibetan religious culture and tradition. These posters reportedly reaffirm His Holiness the Dalai Lama's prerogative authority in the matter and demand that the China desist from interfering. Many of these posters have been signed by a clandestine Tibetan organisation called Ghung-jong Rangwang Dedhon U Chikhyab Lekhung (Central Office for the Welfare and Freedom of Snowland [Tibet]).

The wall posters have also been put up on the doors and at the gates of the residences of Tibetan leaders in the administration of the so-called "TAR". Several of these posters were seen at the residence of Sengchen Lobsang Gyaltsen, a vice-chairman of "TAR" People's Congress, the rubber-stamp parliament of the region. These posters reportedly condemned such Tibetan leaders for having bowed to Chinese pressure to attack His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The Chinese authorities have now advised these leaders not to venture out of their homes.

On 13 July 1995, the European Parliament passed a resolution on the situation in Tibet which expressed grave concern at the reports of the abduction and disappearance of the six-year old Panchen Lama. The resolution called for the immediate release of the Panchen Lama and his family members.