Ten years ago a child was stolen. He’s one of the youngest political prisons in the world. He was six then. Today is his sixteenth birthday and he is still missing.

Tibet is a place close to my heart. I love the scenary, the people and the religion. It’s a quiet place, born from many years of war into a stable, abiding Buddhist country. The invasion by the Chinese has seen many atrocities but none more upsetting that the deliberate abduction of a child for political reasons.

Tibet’s stolen child is Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, recognised by His Holiness The Dali Lama as the His Holiness The Panchen Lama. The Panchen Lama is the second most important figure in Tibetan culture, religion and politics, after His Holiness The Dalai Lama.

The title Panchen Lama originates back to the Fifth Dalai Lama who in 1642 gave the title Panchen Lama, meaning Great Scholar, to his teacher the Abbott of Tashilhunpo Monastery in order to consolidate Gelugpa power. Since then it has traditionally been the role of the Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama to act as the teacher of the new incarnation.

Regardless of if you beleive any of that or not at 16 years old, having spent 10 years in prison, he deserves better.

Take a moment to join one of the many petitions here. Don’t let another year, or ten, slip by.

Tashi delek Gedhun, Happy Birthday.