enforced disappearance

17/05/2023 Arbitrary Detention / Freedom of religion and belief / Involuntary Disappearance / News / TCHRD Statements

28 years since the enforced disappearance of Tibet’s Panchen Lama by the Chinese government

On the 28th anniversary of the Chinese government’s arbitrary detention and subsequent enforced disappearance of the 11th Panchen Lama Jetsun Tenzin Gedhun Yeshi Trinley Phuntsok Pal Sangpo, widely recognised by his lay name Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) reiterates its call to the Chinese government to immediately and unconditionally release the Panchen Lama, his family members, and all the Tibetan political prisoners. TCHRD emphasises that without ensuring the Tibetan people’s fundamental human rights, including freedom of belief and religion, Chinese authorities can never hope to win the hearts and minds of Tibetans, let alone earn any legitimacy for its repressive policies and campaigns in Tibet.

25/07/2022 extrajudicial summary or arbitary executions / News

Tibetan entrepreneur and philanthropist Tenzin Choephel sentenced to 18 years in prison for “inciting separatism”

The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) strongly condemns the unjust sentencing of the Tibetan entrepreneur and philanthropist Mr Tenzin Choephel to 18 years in prison on the trumped-up charge of “inciting separatism” in Tarchen (Ch: Daqen) Township in Sernye (Ch: Sèní) District, Nagchu (Ch: Nagchu) City

17/05/2022 News

27th Anniversary of Enforced Disappearance of Tibetan spiritual leader 11th Panchen Lama

One of the most highly revered Tibetan spiritual leaders, the 11th Panchen Lama Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, remains missing since his abduction by the Chinese authorities at the age of six on 17 May 1995.

25/10/2021 News

Award-winning photographer among other Tibetan monks detained from Kirti Monastery in Ngaba

Lobsang Choephel, 34, was detained earlier this month along with other unidentified monks. The reason behind their sudden detention and their whereabouts remain unknown.

30/08/2021 abitrary-detention / Campaign / News / political-prisoner / special-procedure / torture

TCHRD stands in solidarity with all victims of enforced disappearances

On the 38th International day of the victims of enforced disappearances, TCHRD remembers all victims of enforced disappearance inside Tibet and calls on China to ratify the Convention for the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearances (Convention).

12/08/2021 News

China launches campaign to crack down on ‘illegal’ online activities and ‘fake’ news

The Communist Party of China’s Central Propaganda Department announced the launch of a campaign to crack down on illegal online activities and fake news.

05/08/2021 News

Tibetan monastic disciplinarian goes missing after arbitrary detention in Ngaba

The 45-year-old disciplinarian, identified as Konmey, was arbitrarily taken into police custody around 20 July 2021. Since then, there has been no information on why and where he was detained. His whereabouts remain unknown.

An undated photo of Lhadar on a pilgrimage trip to the Potala Palace in Lhasa.

18/05/2020 News

China: Release Tibetans subjected to enforced disappearance for opposing coercive political indoctrination campaign

The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) urge Chinese authorities to immediately reveal the fate of two Tibetan men who went missing last year after they were detained by police for refusing to take part in coercive political re-education campaigns in Tachen Township in Nagchu (Ch: Naqu) County, Nagchu Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, in the traditional Shak Ronpo area in the Tibetan province of Kham.

Lhadar and Norsang were detained last year in separate incidents when local authorities conducted mass political re-education campaign, also known as patriotic education, to ensure that the celebrations marking the 70^th founding anniversary of the Chinese Party-state went unopposed.

17/05/2020 Campaign / News / TCHRD Statements / Uncategorized

China must publicly disclose truth about Tibet’s disappeared Panchen Lama

On the 25^th anniversary of the enforced disappearance of the 11^th Panchen Lama Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) reiterates its call for his immediate and unconditional release and unfettered access to independent international human rights group to ascertain his fate and wellbeing.

Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was six years old when he and his parents became victims of enforced disappearance at the hands of Chinese authorities on 17 May 1995, three days after His Holiness the Dalai Lama had recognised him as the reincarnation of the previous 10^thPanchen Lama.

11/05/2020 News

China must end enforced disappearance of Tibetan environmental and cultural advocate

The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) is deeply concerned over the enforced disappearance of Tibetan businessman Tenzin Choephel, who was known for environmental and cultural advocacy work in Tachen Township, Nagchu (Ch: Naqu) County, Nagchu Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, in the Tibetan province of Kham.

Choephel has not been heard or seen since his detention by Chinese police in March 2018 from Gongkar Airport in Lhasa. He had just returned from a trip to Chengdu city. After taking him to a detention centre in Lhasa city, police searched his house and allegedly found some photos of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and “several political literature”.

25/04/2017 News / TCHRD Statements

China silent on enforced disappearance of Tibet’s Panchen Lama as TCHRD observes 22 years of Panchen Lama’s captivity with a new report on Tibet’s prisoners of conscience

Today is the 28th birthday of Tibet’s 11th Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, who went missing 22 years ago along with his parents after they were detained by Chinese officials in Tibet. The Panchen Lama’s case has become one of the world’s longest enforced disappearances, the answer to which is considered a top state secret by the Chinese government. The…