Dharamshala — on the 30th anniversary of the Panchen Lama's disappearance, Tibetans and supporters in India, the USA, Canada, France, Germany, Belgium, Britain, Netherlands, Australia, Italy and Switzerland protested against the Chinese government's abduction of the 11th Panchen Lama in Tibet in 1995, and call on the Chinese government to release him and his family member.
The 11th Panchen Lama, Jetsun Tenzin Gedun Yeshi Trinley Phuntsok Pal Sangpo (Gedhun Choekyi Nyima), was recognised as the reincarnation of the 10th Panchen Lama, Choekyi Gyaltsen, in 1995 by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. However, three days after this recognition, he was abducted by the Chinese government at the age of six, along with his father Kunchok Phuntso, and his mother Dechen Choedron and his teacher Chadrel Rinpoche. They all disappeared since then and even Tibetans, world leaders, members of parliament and the international community questioned his whereabouts and called on the Chinese government to release him. This year marked 30th anniversary of abduction and disappearance of the 11th Panchen Lama of Tibet.
Tibetans and supporters in India, the USA, Canada, France, Germany, Belgium, Britain, Netherlands, Australia, Italy and Switzerland organised protests in front of Chinese embassies on May 17, 2025 and protest against the Chinese government's abduction of the 11th Panchen Lama in Tibet on May 17, 1995.
Tibetan Youth Association in Europe and the Swiss Tibetan Women’s Association jointly organised a peaceful protest marking the 30th anniversary of the enforced disappearance of the 11th Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, in Zurich, Switzerland,on May 17, 2025. Over 200 Tibetan demonstrators marched from central Zurich to the Chinese Consulate, calling for his immediate release and demanding transparency from Chinese authorities regarding his current situation.
The Tibet Office in Brussels has also launched a campaign to celebrate the 36th birthday of the 11th Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, while marking the three decades since his enforced disappearance. The initiative aims to draw the international community's attention to his continued absence, and to advocate his immediate release.
Tibetans and supporters held a candlelight vigil and peaceful protest outside the Chinese Embassy in London, on May 17, 2025, to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the enforced disappearance of the 11th Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima.
Tibetans in New York and New Jersey organised a peaceful march to raise awareness of the 11th Panchen Lama, Gedun Choekyi Lama, in New York and in particular in front of the United Nations office in New York on May 17, 2025. They also protested against the Chinese government in front of the Chinese Embassy in New York for the abduction of Tibet's spiritual leader, Gedun Choekyi Lama on May 17, 2025. They also called on the Chinese government to release him, his family and his teacher immediately.
Tibetans protested outside the Chinese consulate in Toronto on May 17, 2025, and called on the Chinese government to release the 11th Panchen Lama of Tibet. The protest was organised by the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) and other Tibetan NGOs.
Five Tibetan NGOs in Paris organised a protest against the Chinese government in front of the Chinese Embassy in Paris, France, on May 17, 2025, condemning the abduction of the 11th Panchen Lama, six-year-old Gedun Choekyi Nyima, in 1995. They called on the Chinese government to release him immediately.
Tibet Initiative Deutschland organised a protest against the Chinese government in front of the Chinese Embassy in Berlin, Germany, on May 17, 2025. They said, "In May 1995, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, then aged six, became the 11th Panchen Lama, with his family, kidnapped by the Chinese authorities - days after His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama recognised him as the reincarnation of the 10th Panchen Lama. They have since disappeared. We call on the Chinese government to release him.
The Tibetan Women's Association organised outreach programs, with 22 Tibetan women riding 11 bicycles to distribute information leaflets about the 11th Panchen Lama, Gedun Choekyi Lama, to Indians and locals in the surrounding areas and streets of Dharamshala. They also organised an event to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Panchen Lama's disappearance at Mcleod Ganj, Dharamshala, on May 17, 2025.
Regional Tibetan Youth Congress in Dharamshala marked 30th anniversary of abduction and disappearance of the 11th Panchen Lama of Tibet by protesting against CCP at Main Square, Mcleod Ganj, Dharamshala, on May 17, 2025. The Tibetan activists demand the Chinese government release him, his family and his teacher, who have been missing for 30 years this year.
The Australian Tibet Council also marks the 30th anniversary of the disappearance of the 11th Panchen Lama and invites people to send an email to the Australian government, and ask it to demand the Chinese government release the Panchen Lama and his family. They wrote, "We ask the Australian government to raise Gedhun Choekyi Nyima's case with the Chinese government, both publicly and privately, and raise his case at the United Nations and support efforts to investigate his whereabouts and ensure that he is alive and well.”
