Dharamshala — The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), Tashi Lhunpo Monastery and Tibetans around the world celebrated the 36th birthday of the 11th Panchen Lama of Tibet and called on the Chinese government to release the Panchen Lama, his parents and his teacher.
Today is the 36th birthday of His Holiness the 11th Panchen Lama, Jetsun Tenzin Gedun Yeshi Trinley Phuntsok Pal Sangpo (Gedhun Choekyi Nyima). The Central Tibetan Administration, Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, the Monastery of the Panchen Lama and Tibetans around the world celebrated the 36th birthday of the 11th Panchen Lama of Tibet on April 25, 2025.
Tenzin Lekshay, Spokesman of the CTA, said that today is the 11th Panchen Lama's birthday and wishes him a long life. But his condition is very difficult. He was arrested by the Chinese government and has been missing since 1995, after three days of recognition as the 11th Panchen Lama. The CTA and the international community asked the Chinese government about the Panchen Lama's whereabouts and his state of health, but they revealed nothing about him. The Chinese government should announce the whereabouts of the 11th Panchen Lama on his birthday.
The Tashi Lhunpo monastery has issued a statement to mark the 11th Panchen Lama's 36th birthday, it states, "Today marks the 36th auspicious birthday of His Holiness the 11th Panchen Lama, Jetsun Tenzin Gedun Yeshi Trinley Phuntsok Pal Sangpo, the human embodiment of Buddha Amitabha. On this special occasion, the monastic and lay communities of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery offer countless prostrations with our body, speech, and mind. With unwavering devotion and a mixture of joy and sorrow, we extend our heartfelt prayers and sincere wishes.
"People across the world are commemorating this day in diverse ways, expressing their deep faith and devotion, and affirming the universal right to religious belief. In this spirit, we too uphold our belief that His Holiness the 11th Panchen Lama is alive, and we earnestly wish him good health, long life, and a joyous birthday.
"In particular, the 10th Panchen Lama lived during one of the most turbulent periods in recent Tibetan history. After His Holiness the Dalai Lama and his entourage were forced into exile, the 10th Panchen Lama devoted his entire life to protecting the rights and welfare of the Tibetan people. During the early 1960s, the Chinese government enacted harsh and unrealistic policies in Tibet, resulting in widespread suffering. These included the mass killing of Tibetans, destruction of religious institutions and cultural heritage, racially discriminatory practices, severe curtailment of basic freedoms, and economic mismanagement leading to widespread famine.
"In the face of immense adversity, the 10th Panchen Lama stood with extraordinary courage and moral clarity. He openly challenged the Chinese government and exposed the systematic torture and repression endured by countless Tibetan monks and laypeople of all ages. As a direct consequence of his outspoken petition, famously known as the Petition of 70,000 Characters, he was subjected to inhumane treatment and imprisoned for 14 years.
"Even after his release in 1977, the Panchen Lama's indomitable spirit remained unwavering. He travelled extensively across Tibet to witness first-hand the living conditions of Tibetan families, the devastation of monastic institutions, and the decline of Tibetan language and culture. He continued to raise these critical issues directly with the Chinese authorities.
"Notably, in 1987, he initiated the establishment of the Tibetan Development Fund with the following aims: to alleviate economic hardship; to rebuild monasteries and nunneries and make them self-sufficient; to provide monastics with both traditional religious and modern education; to ensure universal access to education for Tibetan children; to found specialized Tibetan language schools; to support Tibetan scholars and artists; and to advocate for legislation mandating the use of Tibetan language in schools and government institutions. He further petitioned for an end to the torture and wrongful imprisonment of political detainees, for their immediate release, and for environmental protections to safeguard Tibet's rivers, lakes, and natural resources. He called on Tibetans to abandon internal divisions and maintain unity. Throughout this period, he remained in close contact with Tibetans in exile, especially with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, persistently working for the betterment of Tibet's future.
"Throughout his life, the 10th Panchen Lama demonstrated unwavering dedication to the cause of Tibet, advocating for meaningful autonomy and the preservation of Tibetan identity. One of his deepest aspirations was to ensure that every Tibetan child had a strong foundation in the Tibetan language. He consistently emphasized the importance of intensifying Tibetan language education in schools and firmly conveyed to the Chinese authorities that: "When the language and cultural traditions of a nation are lost, the nation itself ceases to exist. Such a loss constitutes the eradication of a people. Without its distinct language and cultural identity, no nation can endure or thrive."
"His advocacy profoundly impacted the status of the Tibetan language in Tibet. Thanks to his efforts, greater attention was paid to Tibetan language education, and many Tibetans developed a renewed sense of responsibility toward preserving their linguistic heritage. However, since his passing, the Chinese government has increasingly restricted Tibetan language education, forcibly closing Tibetan schools and implementing policies that effectively suppress the use of Tibetan in public life. As a result, many Tibetan children today grow up without fluency in their mother tongue. In these difficult times, Tibetans of all generations remember and mourn the profound legacy and kindness of the 10th Panchen Lama.
"For centuries, the tradition of recognising reincarnated lamas has been a distinct and sacred aspect of Tibetan Buddhism, particularly the reciprocal recognition of each other's reincarnations by the Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama. However, under the repressive policies of the Chinese government, this tradition has come under severe threat. It has now been thirty years since the disappearance of the 11th Panchen Lama, Gedhun Chockyi Nyima, making his case the clearest evidence of the Chinese government's ongoing violations of religious freedom and human rights in Tibet-including enforced disappearances and arbitrary detention.
"The tragic situation surrounding the 11th Panchen Lama must serve as a wake-up call. It underscores the need for vigilance and caution in how future Tibetan reincarnations are recognised. Despite relentless efforts by the Chinese government to control and suppress Tibetan spiritual traditions, the devotion of the Tibetan people to the Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama has only deepened. This unwavering faith is a powerful symbol of the indestructible spirit of the Tibetan people.
"For over three decades, the United Nations and governments worldwide have expressed grave concern over the Panchen Lama's fate. Numerous international human rights organisations have issued statements demanding clarity about his whereabouts and well-being. Yet, to this day, the Chinese authorities have failed to provide any credible information about him or his family.
On this 36th auspicious birthday of the 11th Panchen Lama, Tashi Lhunpo Cultural Society and Panchen Erdeni Centre solemnly reaffirm their positions and urgent appeals:
- The recognition of reincarnated lamas is an inherent part of Tibetan religious tradition and an exercise of religious freedom, which the Constitution of the People's Republic of China claims to protect. However, the Chinese government's interference in this sacred process represents a flagrant violation of its own laws.
- Gedun Choekyi Nyima is the legitimate 11th Panchen Lama, recognised by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama according to longstanding Tibetan religious procedures. The Chinese government's distortion of Tibetan spiritual traditions for political purposes is unacceptable and illegal.
- We urgently call upon the United Nations and the international community to press for the immediate release of the 11th Panchen Lama. For thirty years, he has remained the world's youngest political prisoner and a forcibly disappeared Tibetan spiritual leader. His fundamental rights and freedoms must be restored without delay.
- We strongly urge the Chinese government to release Panchen Rinpoche, his parents, and all other unjustly detained Tibetan political prisoners. We also call for the full restoration of religious freedom and a cessation of interference in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition.
- With fervent prayers for the long lives of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and the 11th Panchen Lama, we express our deepest hope for their reunion in Tibet and the swift arrival of freedom, peace, and happiness for the Tibetan people.
