To commemorate the 17th birthday of the 11th Panchen Lama and to protest his ongoing detention in the Chinese custody, Friends of Tibet (India) Calcutta chapter is organising a bike ride from Calcutta, West Bengal to Phuntsokling Tibetan Settlement, Chandragiri, Orissa on April 22, 2006.

The bike ride is being undertaken by Tathagata Chakravarti, Friends of Tibet coordinator for Calcutta chapter and his wife Dr Swati Chakravarti, a member of Friends of Tibet. They will be covering a distance of 746 kms and cross cities like Balasore, Bhubaneshwar and Berhampur with the campaign for Panchen Lama.

While Mr. Tathagata Chakravarti will drive the bike, Mrs. Swati
Chakravarti, will be on the pillion distributing leaflets during their four-day-long journey. Mr. Shibayan Raha, will coordinate the rally. The husband wife team will meet people on their way and talk to them about Panchen Lama.

The Eleventh Panchen Lama, Gendhun Choekyi Nyima was born in the year of 1989, 25th April, in Lhari District, in Kham, eastern Tibet. At the age of six he was recognized by His Holiness the Dalai Lama on 14th May 1995 as the 11th Panchen Lama of Tibet. Three days after his recognition, Gendhun Choekyi Nyima along with his family, Chadrel Rinpoche and his Secretary were kidnapped by the officials of the Government of People’s Republic of China. Since 1995, they are all missing and there is no such indication that they are still alive.

The aim of this campaign is to highlight the condition in which His
Holiness the 11th PANCHEN LAMA, Gendhun Choekyi Nyima is living under China’s control. The bike rally is to reach Tibetan refugee camp in Chandragiri in Orissa on 25th April, coinciding with the birthday celebration of the 11th Panchen Lama at the Tibetan refugee camp. On arriving at the Tibetan refugee camp, with the help and support of local Tibetans living in the refugee camp, the three bike-rally team from Kolkata will take part in the Panchen Lama birthday celebration, which includes screening of the film “The Kingdom of Lost Boy”, a film based on life story of 11th Panchen Lama.

There will also be a unique event conducted by the members of FOT Calcutta chapter. The event is “HANDS FOR THE PANCHEN LAMA”. All the Tibetans staying in the settlement will make a paper cut-out of their hand prints and on that they will write their names and a message addressing it to the Chinese Ambassador in New Delhi asking him to immediately release His Holiness the 11th Panchen Lama.

As per the latest counting there are nearly 3100 Tibetans in Chandragiri Tibetan camp. The unique message hand shape papers will be collected and brought to Kolkata and then will be dispatched to the Embassy of PRC in New Delhi.

Phuntshokling Tibetan Refugee Camp in Chandragiri is Gajapati District of East Indian state of Orissa, and it is one of the biggest Tibetan refugee camps in India.

Demands:
* Immediate and unconditional release of the Panchen Lama and his family from the Chinese custody
* The panchen Lama be permitted to take his seat in the Tashilhunpo monastery and his religious freedom restored
* UN monitors and representatives of HH The Dalai Lama be allowed to visit the Panchen Lama

Appeal:
This campaign of Friends of Tibet appeals the Indian people, Indian government and the international community to urge PRC for the immediate release of the Panchen Lama.

To know more, email: friendsoftibet.calcutta@gmail.com
Phone: Tathata and Swati: (0) 9831017148
Shibayan (co-ordinator) - 9831521747.

Meanwhile continuing their rally for a free Tibet, Tibetans have opted for a younger look for their parliament-in-exile in northern India, according to election results announced, with some new members saying they would press for independence for their homeland. http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060420/wl_sthasia_afp/tibetindiavote_060420054834

Friends of Tibet is a global movement to keep alive the issue of Tibet through direct action. Our activities are aimed at ending China's occupation of Tibet and the suffering of the Tibetan people. Friends of Tibet supports the continued struggle of the Tibetan people for independence. To know more, visit: www.friendsoftibet.org

Friends of Tibet, PO Box: 16674, Bombay 400050, India.
Tel: +91.22.26409612 / Mobile: +91.9388465953 / +91.9418079832

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