Tibetans demand that China release Panchen Lama boy
{{date|March 18, 2005}}

[[Tibet]]an activists are demanding that the [[People's Republic of China]] release Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and his family.  Nyima, aged 16,  is considered  the  11th {{w|Panchen Lama}} by Tibetan [[Buddhism|Buddhists]].  The Pachen Lama is the second-highest figure in Tibetan Buddhism.

Tibetan activists say that Nyima and his family were kidnapped by Chinese authorities on May 17, 1995, just days after the boy was recognized as the {{w|reincarnation}} of the 10th Panchen Lama by the [[w:Dalai Lama|Dalai Lama]].  At that time the boy was 6 years old. Human rights groups claim that he is the youngest political prisoner ever.

The whereabouts of Nyima and his parents are unknown. The Chinese government claims to be protecting them because of death threats they have received and say that the boy is in school and that he and his family are happy.

Tibetans don't believe the government's version of the events and are campaigning for the Panchen Lama to be released. 
After the arrest of the Panchen Lama, China  named a rival boy, Gyancain Norbu, the son of a communist, to the office. The new boy is not well supported by most parts of the Tibetan community.
{{haveyoursay}}
== Sources ==

*{{source|url=http://www.freetibet.org/campaigns/panchen/background.html
|title=Free Tibet Campaign - The Panchen Lama
|author=
|pub=Free Tibet Campaign
|date=}}
*{{source|url=http://www.tibet.ca/panchenlama/panchen.html
|title=Free the Panchen Lama
|author=
|pub=The Panchen Lama Website
|date=}}
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2450463.stm
|title=China says vanished Panchen Lama 'happy'
|author=
|pub=BBC News Online
|date=12 November, 2002}}
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/1424133.stm
|title=Panchen Lama visits Shanghai
|author=Duncan Hewitt
|pub=BBC News Online
|date=July 5, 2001}}

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[[Category:China]]
[[Category:Tibet]]
[[Category:Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama]]
[[Category:Buddhism]]

[[es:Tibetanos demandan que China libere al joven Panchen Lama]]
Tibetan activists are demanding that the People's Republic of China release Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and his family.  Nyima, aged 16,  is considered  the  11th  by Tibetan Buddhists.  The Pachen Lama is the second-highest figure in Tibetan Buddhism.

Tibetan activists say that Nyima and his family were kidnapped by Chinese authorities on May 17, 1995, just days after the boy was recognized as the  of the 10th Panchen Lama by the Dalai Lama.  At that time the boy was 6 years old. Human rights groups claim that he is the youngest political prisoner ever.

The whereabouts of Nyima and his parents are unknown. The Chinese government claims to be protecting them because of death threats they have received and say that the boy is in school and that he and his family are happy.

Tibetans don't believe the government's version of the events and are campaigning for the Panchen Lama to be released. 
After the arrest of the Panchen Lama, China  named a rival boy, Gyancain Norbu, the son of a communist, to the office. The new boy is not well supported by most parts of the Tibetan community.
China Tibet Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama Buddhism