Groups urge Beijing to offer details on Panchen LamaBy Chen Yu-fu and William Hetherington / Staff reporter, with staff writerThe Human Rights Network for Tibet and Taiwan on Monday called on Beijing to provide details on the 11th Panchen Lama, who was kidnapped by the Chinese government 26 years ago. The 11th Panchen Lama, born Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, was abducted along with his family by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in 1995 when he was six years old. In the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism that is practiced in Tibet, the Panchen Lama is responsible for seeking out the next reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, and his authority is second only to the Dalai Lama. “In the past, human rights groups and Buddhists called for the unconditional release of the 11th Panchen Lama, but the Chinese government always lied. China should release Gedhun at once and provide a comprehensive report to the UN’s human rights bodies,” Shih said.

Source: Taipei Times May 18, 2021 15:56 UTC