Remembering the 10th Panchen Lama

By Demay Tsering / January 30, 2014;

The 10th Panchen Lama of Tibet

January 28 marked 25 years since Lobsang Trinley Lhundup Choekyi Gyaltsen, the 10th Panchen Lama, died aged 51 years.

The Panchen Lama is the second highest ranking Lama after the Dalai Lama in the Gelugpa lineage of Tibetan Buddhism.

Ven Bagdro, a Tibetan Buddhist monk and former political prisoner who is actively campaigning for a free Tibet, spoke at a press conference to commemorate the occasion at Lha’s Ahimsa House. Ven Bagdro recalled the contributions made by the 10th Panchen Lama, and spoke about the allegations that there was a Chinese conspiracy to assassinate him. Ven Bagdro said that in November 1987 a “meeting to decide on [the]elimination of the Panchen” was convened at Deng Xiaoping’s residence. He said that participants of the meeting included Deng Xiaoping, Chenyun, Li Xiannian, Bo Yibo and Songping, and that Wen Jiabao and Hu Jintao were appointed to execute a so called “Special Decision on Panchen” undertaking. Ven Bagdro continued, “The Chinese government successfully executed the plan to poison Panchen Rinpoche, and he passed away in Tashi Lhunpo monastery on 28th morning”. Ven Bagdro said that still these days we remember late 10th Panchen Lama with great affection and extend our gratitude for his enormous contribution towards Tibet’s political, religious, social and cultural identity.

Panchen Rinpoche during the struggle (thamzing) session

In 1962, the 10th Panchen Lama wrote a 70,000 character petition about the Tibetan people’s plight under Chinese occupation. This petition angered Mao Zedong who called it a “poisoned arrow shot at the party.” The Panchen Lama was condemned without trial and spent the following 14 years in prison or under virtual house arrest. In 1978, he was freed. During his last visit to Tibet in January 1989, he gave a public speech in Shigatse, publicly criticising Chinese policies in Tibet and declaring his loyalty to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. Shortly after the address he died under mysterious circumstances.

Gendun Choekyi Nyima, the 11th Panchen Lama

Tibet’s 11th Panchen Lama, Gendhun Choeki Nyima, will turn 26 on April 25, 2014. He disappeared at the age of 6 years and has since been detained in China and is considered the world’s youngest political prisoner. Tibetans, supporters and Buddhists all over the world are deeply concerned about him. The Chinese government has made many conflicting statements as to his whereabouts and in 1998, Mary Robinson, the UN High Commissioner of Human Rights was denied access to him during her fact finding trip to Tibet.