Published by World Tibet Network News - Monday - November 27, 1995

From: ctctor@web.apc.org (Rigzin Dolkar)

Canadian Tibetan Association of Ontario - For immediate release November 23, 1995

The Tibetan community in Ontario and friends of Tibet gather before the Chinese Consulate, 240 St. George Street, Toronto, Saturday, December 2, 1995 at 1 p.m., to bring attention to the disappearance of six-year Gendun Choekyi Nima, recognized by His Holiness the Dalai Lama as the reincarnation of the Panchen Lama, Tibet's second highest spiritual leader, and believed to be detained by the Chinese government.

In May 1995 the Dalai Lama announced the selection of Gendun Choekyi Nyima from Northern Tibet as the 11th Panchen Lama, the 10th Panchen Lama having passed away in 1989. The announcement angered Beijing and was followed within days by several arrests in Tibet of monks and the head of the search committee for the Panchen Lama, who was accused of colluding with the Dalai Lama.

In July the little boy and his family disappeared from their village and although the Chinese government claims it has no knowledge of their whereabouts, it is believed that they have been taken to Beijing by Chinese security agents and are being held there.

The Tibetan community in Ontario strongly urges the Chinese government to allow Gendun Choekyi Nyima and his family to return to his village in Tibet.

It also calls upon the Government of Canada to inquire into the whereabouts of Gendun Choekyi Nyima and to establish that he is indeed safe and not being held against his will and the will of his parents.

The Tibetan community also protests the attempts by Beijing to interfere in the spiritual affairs of the Tibetan people and for forcing religious figures in Tibet to come up with a Beijing-approved reincarnation of the Panchen Lama.

For further information contact Rigzin Dolkar (416) 363-3401 (b) or (416) 465-1713 (h)