Free Panchen Lama

Where is the Panchen Lama?

Six year old Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was kidnapped by the Chinese government in 1995 after he’d been recognised as the Tibet’s 11th Panchen Lama.

He became the world’s youngest political prisoner and has not been seen since.

He has now been missing for over 27 years!

Since his disappearance the Chinese government has repeatedly dismissed requests for his release and for full disclosure about the Panchen Lama’s location and well-being.

Resources

The Panchen Lama Today

The Panchen Lama (Tib: པཎ་ཆེན་རེན་པོ་ཆེ།) is one of the most important religious leaders in Tibet. The 10th Panchen Lama, a vocal advocate of Tibet cultural and identity, and he passed away mysteriously in 1989.

In 1995 Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, was recognized by His Holiness the Dalai Lama as the 11th Panchen Lama.

Just weeks later, on 17 May, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was ‘removed’ from his home by Chinese authorities, along with his family; he was just six years old.

In 2019 a forensic image of what Gedhun Choekyi Nyima might look today was been produced by a forensic artist, Tim Widden, who has worked on a number of missing people cases as part of the UK National Crime Agency.

Take part in 20 Actions  to build more awareness about his important case.

By taking at least one simple action every month you will build more awareness about his Gedhun Choekyi Nyima’s case, and help press for his release.

25 years on, the search continues

Learn More

10th panchen-lama

Chöekyi Gyaltsen, the 10th Panchen Lama 1938 – 1989

The Panchen Lama (Tib: པཎ་ཆེན་རེན་པོ་ཆེ།) is one of the most important religious leaders in Tibet. The 10th Panchen Lama, a vocal advocate of Tibet cultural and identity until he passed away mysteriously in 1989. In 1995 Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, was recognized by His Holiness the Dalai Lama as the 11th Panchen Lama.

Just weeks later, on 17 May, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was ‘removed’ from his home by Chinese authorities, along with his family; he was just six years old.

Show more background information

Missing since he was six-years old; is this what Gedhun Choekyi Nyima looks like at 30?

International Tibet Network supports the Tibet Movement to develop and strengthen global campaigns. This campaign has been devised by a Campaign Working Group with the following active members: