Since 1995, no one has seen the man who was recognized by the Dalai Lama as a reincarnation of the Panchen Lama, abducted at the age of six. Gatherings will be held Wednesday around the world in his honor.
It will be 28 years since Wednesday May 17 that the Panchen Lama was kidnapped by the Chinese communist regime. He is the second greatest spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism. However, in 1995, Beijing imprisoned a six-year-old child presented as being the reincarnation of the Panchen Lama… Since then, it is impossible to know what has become of this child, now 34 years old.
As every year, Tibetans from all over the world will mobilize so that we do not forget the one who was one of the youngest political prisoners in the world: a rally will thus take place in Paris on Wednesday in his honor and to others are announced in Belgium, India, the United States or Switzerland. One way not to forget the one that no one has seen since May 17, 1995: at the time, this little boy called Gedhun Choékyi Nyima, then six years old, is recognized by the Dalai Lama as being a reincarnation of panchen lama, which means “great scholar” in Tibetan.
The Panchen Lama is a political issue for Beijing
However, the Chinese, who have occupied Tibet since 1950, have made the recognition of this spiritual figure a political issue: not only have they kidnapped this little boy with his family to imprison them in China, but they have designated a false panchen- llama to replace him. The importance of the Panchen Lama is due to the fact that if it is the Dalai Lama who chooses him, at the same time, the Panchen Lama participates in the recognition of the Dalai Lama. Hence the challenge for China to take control of this crucial designation for the future of Tibetan Buddhism.
For 28 years, the only existing photo of the Panchen Lama is that of a six-year-old boy. Since then, no one knows if he is alive, dead, in prison, well treated or not. A few years ago, Beijing had assured that the Panchen Lama had studied, found a job and that he did not wish to have a relationship with the world. But as often with China, it is impossible to know if it is a truth or a lie.
Nothing says that the tradition of the Panchen Lama and the Dalai Lama will continue in the future: to be certain that the tradition is not taken over by China, the Dalai Lama mentioned the possibility of breaking with the tradition in designating himself a reincarnation, possibly a daughter, or even ending the institution. He gave himself a little more time before deciding. Little by little, the Tibetan identity is being destroyed by Beijing: evidenced by the exile of children from the age of four, who are placed in boarding schools far from their families. Some refer to real crimes against humanity.