Dear Ven Ani Yeshe, - Ocultar texto citado - To you and me, it seems unbelievable that anyone could be punished, and punished severely, simply for voicing support for the Dalai Lama—the protector and leader of the Tibetan people. Yet the Chinese government regularly and determinedly punishes Tibetans—especially nuns and monks—who show devotion to the Dalai Lama and exercise their faith. And they’ll kidnap a six-year-old boy to wrestle religious authority from those in whom it is vested. This is the last known photo of the Panchen Lama before he was abducted by Chinese authorities. Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was six years old when he was recognized by His Holiness the Dalai Lama to be the 11th incarnation of the Panchen Lama—a profoundly important religious teacher and spiritual leader who has guided the Tibetan people for generations. Three days later, this small boy and his family were abducted by the Chinese government. That was fourteen years ago. Since then, no independent source has been permitted to see or speak with the young man. The Chinese government’s lack of respect for the young man’s personal freedom and for the religious freedom of all Tibetans is deeply alarming. As an added outrage, China chose another boy—whose appointment did not reflect the religious authority of the Dalai Lama—to act as Panchen Lama. The concept of reincarnation is central to Tibetan Buddhism. The idea of appointing an alternate to the wisdom of eleven lifetimes is both absurd and an insult to a fundamental religious belief. China wants the world to forget about the Panchen Lama. They want to keep their repression of Tibetans quiet. And they want to select the next Dalai Lama to gain political and religious control over the Tibetan people. The goal of the International Campaign for Tibet is clear: We must hold the Chinese government responsible for the violations against Tibet and the appalling repression of the Tibetan Buddhist religion. That’s why we’re intensifying our campaign on behalf of the Panchen Lama and all the people of Tibet.