The 8th Birthday of Gendhun Choekyi Nyima, The Panchen Lama

Speech by Thubten Jigme Norbu

Ithaca, New York - April 25, 1997

This is a very sad day for me. Our young, 8 year old Panchen Lama, Gendhun Choekyi Nyima, remains under detention somewhere near Beijing, cut off from all contact with Tibetans who revere Him as one of our most important religious figures. This is an especially sad day, however, because this is the second time I have had to speak out on the Panchen Lama's Birthday, pleading to the world to turn its attention to this poor child who is a prisoner of one of the most brutal regimes of this century, even though He Himself is innocent of any crime. In fact, the imprisonment of The Panchen Lama is a clear cut example of the kind of brutal force that the Tibetan people have had to deal with for many years.

For this reason, I would like to repeat some of what I said last year in front of the United Nations when a group of us completed our 45-day walk from Washington, D.C. to New York City. The fact that another year has gone by, marking almost two years of imprisonment for Gendhun Choekyi Nyima, makes it even more important for us to truly understand why we are struggling for the independence of Tibet.

Last year, I told you that I too had been held prisoner in my own Monastery called Kumbum Monastery, over 45 years ago, when China was plotting to extinguish Tibet's independence. For that reason, I think I can imagine some of the suffering of the young Panchen Lama. But, faced with an oppressive power that commits such acts we can understand why independence for Tibet's is necessary. It is neither unrealistic nor extreme. The question of what is realistic and unrealistic is simply a matter of our determination to stand by the Tibetan people inside Tibet, who are firm in their determination to safeguard the Tibetan nation for future generations of Tibetans.

Tibet can triumph if Tibetans and their supporters make our national hopes for independence the firm element that anyone concerned about "realities" must deal with. As for the idea that independence for Tibet is extreme, I will simply point out that Tibetans are nowhere demanding vengeance for the horrors that China has inflicted on us for more than four decades. The struggle for independence is one that easily lends itself to non-violence and reason. This is hardly an extreme position. But Tibet must be independent and in a position to deal with China as an independent party for any accommodation between our two countries to have any hope of lasting.

I urge each of you to speak out for Gendhun Choekyi Nyima. As the youngest political prisoner on the planet, Gendhun Choekyi Nyima currently has no rights, no freedom, and no legal representation. In fact, it is unbelievable that no one from the free world has seen or spoken with Him since He disappeared on May 17th, 1995. And, no organization including the United Nations, Amnesty International, and the U.S. State Department has been able to confirm whether He is alive or dead.

Gendhun Choekyi Nyima's situation is a great tragedy and a very clear statement about The PRC's cruelty toward Tibetans and The PRC's plan for the future of Tibet. We can no longer remain silent. We must take action immediately. We must also continue to act each day until the 8 year old Panchen Lama is able to be in our presence.

Let others know about the disappearance of Gendhun Choekyi Nyima. Write your government officials and members of the human rights community. Demand that the young Panchen Lama be released along with His family and persons involved in His discovery. Gendhun Choekyi Nyima must be permitted to serve His people and He must be allowed to live freely among the world community. As we gather here today, an extremely wise and gifted 8 year old child is probably being tortured. I cannot fully express my sadness and concern about His situation. I pray for Gendhun Choekyi Nyima's health, safety, immediate release, and long life. I anxiously wait for the day when all of us can be in His presence and receive His blessings. Please join me now and chant with me:

Long Live Gendhun Choekyi Nyima!

Long Live Gendhun Choekyi Nyima!

Long Live Gendhun Choekyi Nyima!

Thank you for supporting Gendhun Choekyi Nyima and the "March for Tibet's Independence." Please join us in New York City on June 14th as we complete our 600-mile walk at the United Nations. The future of Tibet is all of our responsibility and I respectfully ask that each of you take action to help Tibet regain its independence.

Po-Rangzen!