Tibetan exiles stage candlelight vigil in Kolkata

Kolkata, Apr 27 (ANI): Tibetan exiles took out a candlelight vigil here last evening protesting against the alleged atrocities by Chinese authorities in their homeland.

The march was organised by the Students of Free Tibet in memory of the victims of Lhasa riots last year and in support of the missing 11th Panchen Lama, Gendhun Chockyi Nyima.

"The reason behind this candlelight vigil is that we are remembering all those people who lost their lives in Lhasa riots last year and yesterday was Gendhun Chockyi Nyima's birthday. He has been kidnapped by the Chinese and till now we don't know about his whereabouts. So, we are demanding his release and simultaneously we want our country to be free," said Kheysang Choden Bhutia, spokesperson of the Students of Free Tibet.

On Saturday marked the 20th birthday of Gendhun Chockyi Nyima, named by Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, as the 11th Panchen Lama.

Gendhun Chockyi Nyima (11th Panchen Lama) was born in Lhari village inagchu region of Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR).

After the 10th Panchen Lama died in 1989, Beijing and the Dalai Lama made rival choices for his successor, and the Dalai's choice for the 11th Panchenama, Gendhun Chockyi Nyima, then aged six, suddenly disappeared from public view.

Tibetans around the world say Chinese authorities kidnapped him and human rights watchdogs have called him the world's youngest political prisoner.

Denouncing the recognition of Panchen Lama in 1995 Chinese had already installed the other Panchan Lama Gyatsen Norbu. (ANI)