Exiled Tibetans commemorate 13th anniversary of Panchen Lama's disappearance

Dharamsala, May 17 : Exiled Tibetans here today took part in a mass prayer to mark the 13th anniversary of the disappearance of Panchen Lama, Tibet's second-highest ranking spiritual leader.

Wearing masks of Panchen Lama, activists of Regional Tibetan Women Association and Regional Tibetan Youth Congress gathered at the Buddhist temple here.

"It has been 13 years now since the Panchen Lama was kidnapped by the Chinese Government. So today, we organised a peace demonstration. We are planning a peace march in the main market. In the evening we will hold a candle light vigil," said, Tenzin, Vice-President, Regional Tibetan Women Association.

The Dalai Lama had recognized Gedhun Choekyi Nyima as the 11thPanchen Lama on May 14, 1995, and within days of the announcement, Chinese police had taken the six-year-old child and his family from their home and done the disappearing act with them.

Chinese atheist Communists dropped the name of Nyima and named their own Panchen Lama, but few Tibetans, recognize him as legitimate.

ANI