Gothangaon Tibetans stage hunger strike, demand release of 11th Panchen Lama
   Date :20-May-2022

Panchen Lama 
 
 
 
 
Staff Reporter
The Tibetans at Gothangaon camp in Gondia district organised a programme to offer special prayers for freedom and well-being of the 11th Panchen Lama, and also staged a daylong hunger strike. The six-year-old Ghedun Choekyi Nyima was allegedly kidnapped by Chinese Government on May 17, 1995, three days after the 14th Dalai Lama recognised him as the 11th Panchen Lama.
The Tibetans at Norgyeling Tibetan Settlement (Gothangaon Camp) is the only Tibetan settlement/camp in Maharashtra where Tibetans in exile live. On May 17 (Tuesday), they offered special prayers for freedom and well-being of the 11th Panchen Lama, and also observed hunger strike throughout the day. Most of the participants were senior citizens, who braved the heat wave conditions and participated in the hunger strike.
Tibetan Women’s Association (TWA) chief read out a statement issued by its head office. The participants criticised Chinese attempts to disregard the Buddhist traditional practices and deliberate targeting of their culture. As per the Central TWA statement, it and the members of its regional chapters staged daylong hunger strike at respective places to commemorate the 27 years of the abduction of the 11th Panchen Lama, his family, and Chadrel Rinpoche, the former abbot of Tashu Lhunpo Monastery and head of the search committee of the 10th Panchen Lama, by the Chinese Communist Party.
“We request the United Nations, UN Working Committee on Human Rights Violations, members of the Parliament, International leaders, UN Working Committee on Child Support, and International Tibet Support Groups for their continued support on fulfilment of demands,” read the Central TWA statement. The major demands included peaceful dialogue between Xi Jinping, Chinese President, and the representatives of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, on Tibet issue; immediate release of the 11th Panchen Lama, his family, Chadrel Rinpoche, and Jangpa Chung La and the innocent prisoners. Also, the Tibetans urged Michelle Bachelet, who has served as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, to go to Tibet and look at the current status of human rights violations happening in Tibet.
The prominent participants in the special prayers and hunger strike at Gothangaon Camp included Lobsang Tenpa, President of Regional Tibetan Youth Congress; Passang Tsering, Vice-President of Regional Tibetan Youth Congress and Chairman of Local Assembly; Kunsang, President of Regional TWA.