Catholic World News News Feature

UN demands access to jailed Tibetan spiritual figure September 23, 2005

The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child is demanding access to Tibet's young Panchen Lama, an important figure in Tibetan Buddhism, the AsiaNews service reports.

Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was only 6 years old when he was identified by the Dalai Lama in 1995 as the reincarnation of the Panchen Lama: the second most revered figure in the Tibetan religion. He was promptly put under house arrest by Chinese authorities.

Chinese officials say that the Panchen Lama "does not wish to be disturbed by foreign visitors."

[For a more detailed story see the AsiaNews web site.]