e-431 (Tibet)

Petition to the Government of Canada

• The Panchen Lama is a highly revered religious figures in Tibet and the highest ranking lama after the Dalai Lama within the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism;
• The Dalai Lama recognized Gedhun Choekyi Nyima as the 11th Panchen Lama on May 14, 1995;
• The Government of China rejected the Dalai Lama’s statement of recognition as “illegal and invalid” and on May 17th 1995 abducted Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and his family;
• Neither Gedhun Choekyi Nyima nor his family have been seen or heard from since May 17, 1995;
• No charges against Gedhun Choekyi Nyima or his family have been disclosed and no trial has been held;
• The Government of China has acknowledged holding Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, but continues to deny permission for visits by international observers including UN observers;
• Since 1995, the Government of Canada has previously been consistent in its efforts to ascertain the whereabouts and wellbeing of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima; and
• In 1995, Amnesty International named Gedhun Choekyi Nyima as the ‘World’s Youngest Political Prisoner’ and 21 years have now passed since his detention.