Brussels, 17 May: As part of the Central Tibetan Administration’s month-long global awareness campaign, the Office of Tibet Brussels organised two key initiatives to mark the 36th birthday of Gedun Choekyi Nyima, the 11th Panchen Lama and the 30th anniversary of his enforced disappearance. These campaigns targeting the European Parliament sought to raise awareness, mobilize support and draw international attention to China’s ongoing violation of religious freedom in Tibet.
As part of the first campaign, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) were provided background briefing on the case of the Panchen Lama and were invited to take photos holding a canvas that read “The 11th Panchen Lama turns 36 on 25 April 2025—But where is he? China is answerable to the world” a symbolic yet powerful gesture of solidarity. Many MEPs enthusiastically joined the campaign, showing strong support in marking the Panchen Lama’s 36th birthday with expressions of concern over his continued detention and the lack of information about his whereabouts.
The second campaign included a deeply moving letter fro m the Panchen Lama to world leaders and artwork created by six-year-old children of both Tibetan weekend schools in Belgium. The letter, written in the voice of the Panchen Lama appealing to world leaders to advocate for his release. The accompanying drawings depicted innocence, vulnerability and the experience of separation powerfully connecting to the fact that the Panchen Lama himself was abducted by the Chinese authorities at the age of six. The campaign resonated emotionally with audiences and served as a poignant reminder of the human cost of enforced disappearance. The appeal letters and the artwork were sent to all Members of the European Parliament.
The Office of Tibet’s continued outreach coupled with these campaigns culminated with the successful adoption of the European Parliament’s resolution of 08 May on the violations of religious freedom in Tibet, strongly opposing China’s interference in His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama’s succession and calling for the immediate release of all Tibetan political and religious prisoners, including the 11th Panchen Lama.
Major Tibetan associations in Belgium along with the International Campaign for Tibet and Lungta jointly organized a peaceful protest at the Brussels city center on Saturday, 17 May to mark the Panchen Lama’s 30 anniversary of enforced disappearance. EU Advocacy Officer Tenzin Phuntsok and recently joined Tibetan Liaison officer Dhundup Gyalpo represented the office of Tibet Brussels.
