Gedhun Choekyi Nyima
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Gedhun Choekyi Nyima (; b. April 25 1989) is, according to the Government of Tibet in Exile, the eleventh reincarnation of the Panchen Lama. He was born in Lhari County, Tibet and was named by the current Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, on May 14, 1995. According to the government of Tibet Autonomous Region, Gyancain Norbu (Erdini Qoigyijabu) is the 11th Panchen Lama.
Following the unexpected death of the 10th Panchen Lama in 1989, the search for his reincarnation quickly became mired in political controversy. Chadrel Rinpoche, the head of the search committee, was able to secretly communicate with the Dalai Lama. However, after the Dalai Lama announced Gedhun Choekyi Nyima as the new Panchen Lama, Chinese authorities arrested Chadrel Rinpoche, who was replaced with Sengchen Lobsang Gyaltsen. Sengchen had been a political opponent of the previous Panchen Lama, as had the Dalai Lama himself. The new search committee decided to ignore the Dalai Lama's announcement and choose the Panchen Lama from a list of finalists, which did not include Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, by drawing lots from the Golden Urn. Gyancain Norbu was announced as the search committee's choice on November 11, 1995.
Imprisonment
The whereabouts of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima are unknown. The Government of Tibet in Exile claims that he and his family continue to be political prisoners, and has termed him the "youngest political prisoner in the world". The Chinese government claims that he is attending school and leading a normal life somewhere in China, and that his whereabouts are kept undisclosed to protect him. [Xizang-zhiye April 27, 2005]
In December, 2005 in an interview with Xinhua, the Chinese news agency, Gyancain Norbu, then 16, praised the religious freedom people in China enjoyed; but other claimed that he and his parents remain in Chinese custody.[The Scotsman newspaper 27 December, 2005] In April 2006 Reuters reported China's denial that he is a political prisoner.[Reuters 28 April, 2006]
Reference
External links
- [$30,000 Reward For Information]
- [BBC News article - "Tibet's missing spiritual guide"]
- [Petition to Release Gedhun Choekyi Nyima]
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