Exiled Tibetans call for fresh dialogue between China, Tibet over release of Panchen Lama

Various religious leaders joined the protesters as they held prayers and demonstrated to demand the initiation of fresh dialogue between Tibet and China regarding the Chinese occupation of Tibet and release of their spiritual leader, the 11th Panchen Lama.

"Our demand is to start a negotiation between Tibet and China, we are not demanding an independent country even though we are independent country. We are not asking for independence, we are asking for genial autonomous under the Chinese constitution," said Dawa Tsering, a member of Tibetan parliament-in-exile.

Tsering requested India's assistance in putting pressure on China for the cause of Tibetan people.

Tibetans and supporters gathered for the prayer demanding the release of a political prisoner in China since 1995. The world's youngest political prisoner, the Panchen Lama, has been missing since he was six years old.

He was last seen on May 17, 1995, when Chinese government took him and his family into custody.

Buddhist monks and Tibetans living-in-exile, gathered in New Delhi, prayed for the well-being as well as his release.

Tibetans in-exile also urged the Chinese government to release the Panchen Lama so that he can reunite with his family and the thousands of followers who have been waiting for his release for the last 19 years.

Social activist Swami Agnivesh called on Tibetan fraternity living in exile to unite under the leadership of their spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.

"I have come here to tell our Tibetan friends that they have been voicing protest in calm manner for many years now. Their voices have not been heard in the last 55 years. China turns a deaf ear to them. How long will they stick to peace? I am not telling that they should resort to non-violent forms of protests. No, that is against the teachings of Buddha. We, the people of India, will join them; people of the world will join them, so that we will march towards Lhasa in Tibet under the leadership of Dalai Lama," he said.

Panchen Lama is one of the most important religious leaders in Tibet. He is the second highest religious leader after the Dalai Lama. The 10th Panchen Lama passed away mysteriously in 1989.

His reincarnation, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, was recognised by the Dalai Lama at the age of six in 1995 and then he was taken into custody by the Chinese government along with his family and to date no one knows of his whereabouts.

Tibetans believe that his parents are currently placed under house arrest in their home town; they are not allowed to make any outside contact. Police officials are reportedly escorting and monitoring all their movements.