We are a group of students at IIM-Ahmendabad and we request you to extend your support for our petition to Free Penchen Lama and his family from the Chinese authorities.

The petition demands UN intervention and calls China to –

1- Immediately release the 11th Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, his parents, and Jadrel Rinpoche

2- Reveal the well-being and whereabouts of the Panchen Lama

3- Allow UN mandate holders to physically verify the well-being and whereabouts of Panchen Gedhun Choekyi Nyima

4- Give unfettered access to Tibet to the UN mandate holders and independent observers.

On 25 April 1995, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima turned six years old. Barely a month later, he became the world’s youngest political prisoner. To many Tibetan people, he is a figure who commands deep respect and reverence. To the Chinese government, which has occupied Tibet since invading it in 1950, the young Panchen Lama was a potential threat to their rule.
Gedhun Choekyi Nyima is the Panchen Lama, the second highest authority in Tibetan Buddhism after the Dalai Lama. Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, (born 25 April 1989, in Lhari County, Tibet) is the 11th Panchen Lama belonging to the Gelugpa school of Tibetan Buddhism, as recognized and announced by the 14th Dalai Lama on 14 May 1995. Three days later on 17 May, the 6 year old Panchen Lama was kidnapped by the Chinese government, after the State Council of the People's Republic of China failed in its efforts to install a substitute. A Chinese substitute is seen as a political tool to undermine the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, which traditionally is recognized by the Panchen Lama. Gedhun Choekyi Nyima remains forcibly detained by the Chinese government, along with his family, in an undisclosed location since 1995. His khenpo, Chadrel Rinpoche, and another Gelugpa monk, Jampa Chungla, were also arrested. The United Nations, numerous nation states, organizations and private individuals continue to call for the 11th Panchen Lama's release.
The Panchen Lama was born in Lhari County, Tibet Autonomous Region, from where he was kidnapped under the authority of the People's Republic of China. He has been called the world's youngest political prisoner. Since his recognition as the 11th Panchen Lama, he continues to be forcibly detained, along with his family, by the Chinese government, and has not been seen in public since 17 May 1995.
In a response to growing international pressure from the United Nations, nation states, and in 2020 from 159 independent organizations from 18 countries working with the United Nations, on 19 May 2020, the Chinese government alleged that the Panchen Lama is "now a college graduate with a stable job", but has not provided supporting evidence.
The Chinese government continues to refuse the Panchen Lama's and his family's release, or allow them to meet with observers

WHO IS THE PANCHEN LAMA?
The Panchen Lama is one of the most important figures in Tibetan Buddhism, second only to the Dalai Lama himself. Perhaps his most important job is the role he plays in recognising the next reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, who then in turn finds the reincarnated Panchen Lama. This tradition has endured for centuries.

WHY WAS HE KIDNAPPED?
The Chinese government rejected the Dalai Lama's candidate as "illegal and invalid" and, six months after Gedhun's abduction, China announced that it had found the "real" reincarnation. They named Gyaltsen Norbu, a Tibetan boy and the son of two Communist Party members, as the Panchen Lama.

WHERE IS THE PANCHEN LAMA NOW?
The location of the Panchen Lama is one of China’s most tightly-guarded secrets, one that they refuse to share. Despite Beijing’s claims that he is safe and does not want to be disturbed, Tibetans continue to demand to know where he is. Even after China appointed their own, pro-Chinese Panchen Lama, Tibetans have never forgotten Gedhun Choekyi Nyima. Since his kidnapping, the whereabouts of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima have been unknown. Chinese officials state that his whereabouts are kept undisclosed to protect him.Human rights organizations termed him the "youngest political prisoner in the world".No foreign party has been allowed to visit him. In May 2007, Asma Jahangir, Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief of the UN Human Rights Council, asked the Chinese authorities what measures they had taken to implement the recommendation of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, that the government should allow an independent expert to visit and confirm the well-being of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima while respecting his right to privacy, and that of his parents. In a response dated 17 July 2007, the Chinese authorities said: "Gedhun Choekyi Nyima is a perfectly ordinary Tibetan boy, in an excellent state of health, leading a normal, happy life and receiving a good education and cultural upbringing. He is currently in upper secondary school, he measures 165 cm [5 ft 5 in] in height and is easy-going by nature. He studies hard and his school results are very good. He likes Chinese traditional culture and has recently taken up calligraphy. His parents are both State employees, and his brothers and sisters are either already working or at university. The allegation that he disappeared together with his parents and that his whereabouts remain unknown is simply not true." This response did not answer the question about a visit or confirmation.

TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION
Send a message to urge the Indian Government to push for the immediate release of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and his family.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Rf3wl-NSQA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tihJBzWC-8