'Cycle Rally for Panchen Lama’ in Doon from May 17 to May 23

DEHRADUN: A bicycle rally by the name, ‘

Cycle Rally

for Panchen Lama’ aiming to highlight the critical situation in Tibet, the condition of Tibetans living under the hardline policies of the Chinese government and mainly to bring awareness about 11th Panchen Lama— Gedhun Choekyi Nyima (second most important figure in Tibetan Buddhism), was organised by Tibetan Youth Congress - the largest Tibetan NGO in exile working for the Tibetan Freedom movement on Tuesday from Doon valley.

The cycle rally with huge participation began from Dehradun on May 17, which is the day when Panchen Lama disappeared nearly 21 years back in 1995 till date, and will end in Delhi on May 23, 2016 as it was on May 23 that the “17-Point Agreement” was signed between Tibet and China under alleged Chinese pressure and ending the rally on that day will highlight the position that Tibetans do not accept the agreement as it was signed under duress.

Speaking to TOI, Tenzin Migyang, president, Regional Tibetan Youth Congress, Nalapani who himself is participating in the rally said, “47 cyclists including one person of Indian origin who is a supporter of Tibetan cause have participated and we will be reaching Delhi on May 22 night and on May 23, we all will assemble in front of the Jantar Mantar and present a memorandum to the UN for our demands”.

The Tibetan youth are seeking accurate information about Gedhun Choekyi Nyima's whereabouts and well-being and urging the United Nations as well as governments of the world to pressure the Chinese government to show concrete evidence that Panchen Lama ( Gedhun Choekyi Nyima) recognised by Dalai Lama is indeed alive and well.

Tibetans from Dekyiling in Dehradun, Poanta Sahib, Puruwalla, Raipur, Rajpur, Herbertpur, Nainital, Mussorie, Delhi, Dharamshala and Bir Tibetan Settlements have taken part in this cycle rally.

In 1995, Dalai Lama recognized young boy Gedhun Choekyi Nyima as the 11th Panchen Lama, the second most important spiritual leader in Tibet and it is alleged that the Chinese authorities abducted Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and his family just weeks after and till date nobody knows his whereabouts.

The TYC is seeking help from the world to free the 11th Panchen Lama and is asking the governments and international organizations to pressure China to meet certain demands like--to give evidence that the 11th Panchen Lama Gendun Choekyi Nyima is alive, urge China to address the demands of the Self Immolations in Tibet, urge China to allow a fact finding international delegation to assess the situation inside Tibet and urge China to release all political prisoners.

This cycle rally termed as a ‘Cycle Rally for Panchen Lama’ was much hailed by the Tibetan youngsters and was a first of its kind rally.