On the occasion of the 35th birthday of H.E. Panchen Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, Els Van Hoof, Chair, and Samuel Cogolati, Deputy Chair, External Affairs Committee of the Federal Parliament of Belgium issued a joint statement.

In their statement, they have condemned the 29-year-long enforced disappearance of the 11th Panchen Lama and have called for his immediate release along with his family, teacher and other political prisoners.

They have also called on the Chinese authorities to respect Tibetan peoples’ right to freedom of religion and the right to select the reincarnation of their religious leaders, including His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, without interference from the Chinese government.

Such statements of support from lawmakers are of vital significance because the case of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima illustrates the continued suffering of the Tibetan people and China’s complete disregard for fundamental human rights.

In 1995, within three days of being declared the reincarnation of the Panchen Lama by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was abducted by the Chinese authorities and has not been heard or seen since.