In Honor of Human Rights Day, Free the Panchen Lama

Floor Speech

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Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, on Human Rights Day, we mark the adoption of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Mr. Speaker, 72 years ago, China was among the countries committing itself to the principle that ``all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.'' In this spirit, I call on the Chinese Government to release Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the 11th Panchen Lama.

In May of 1995, only days after Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was chosen to serve as the 11th Panchen Lama, the Chinese Government kidnapped him and his family. The outside world has neither seen nor heard from them since. Chinese authorities tell the world that the Panchen Lama and his family are safe, and they say that they are well, but they refuse to allow anyone to visit and verify his well-being.

Mr. Speaker, the Universal Declaration enshrines the rights to liberty and religious freedom and precludes arbitrary detention. China should honor its international obligations by freeing the true Panchen Lama.

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