From the Office of the Special Envoy of H.H. the Dalai Lama, Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C., November 10,-- China has finalised plans to announce its Panchen Lama with the shortlisting of names of three Tibetan boys. The list does not include tile name of the boy recognized by the Dalai Lama.

According to information received by the Tibetan Government-in-exile on November 10,1995, the on-going conference in Beijing has decided on the following boys: Gyaltsen Norbu, from Nagchu, a town northwest of Lhasa; Tsering Wangdu, also from Nagchu; and Ngawang Namdrol, from Lhasa.

On November 4, 1995, the Chinese Government's United Front Works Department summoned 75 Tibetans from the Tibet Autonomous Region and other Tibetan areas for a meeting in Beijing. All proceedings, including the smaller sessions, were chaired by officials of the United Front. All participants had to make statements which were tape-recorded.

In order to put a semblance of credibility to the United Front-orchestrated move to install a pretender, the Chinese Government is making plans to have a golden urn ceremony at the Jokhang (Central Cathedral) in Lhasa. "No Tibetan will be fooled by this," said Lodi G. Gyari, Washington-based Special Envoy of H.H. the Dalai Lama. "To all Tibetans the boy recognized by the Dalai Lama is the sole legitimate reincarnation, no matter whatever methods the Chinese authorities may use to put a stamp of legitimacy to their present move," Special Envoy Gyari added.

This Chinese action will become another obstacle in the Dalai Lama's efforts to find a negotiated settlement with the Chinese leadership on the Tibetan problem. "This blatant assault on the core belief of Tibetan Buddhism is going to further alienate the Tibetan people from the Chinese rulers," Special Envoy Gyari said.

At a time when China is trying to convince the world that she is moving towards a more open society, Beijing is resorting to policies of intimidations on the matter of the selection of the Panchen Lama. Many attendees of the conference have been coerced to attend. China has also resurrected Cultural Revolution figures to accomplish its objectives.

Sengchen Lobsang Gyaltsen, recently appointed to replace the detained Chadrel Rinpoche as the head of the search committee for the Panchen Lama, was among the few Tibetans who was actively involved in denouncing the late Panchen Lama in 1964, during his struggle sessions.

An eye-witness of the Beijing conference says the proceedings were tense with no dissenting opinions tolerated. A suggestion by some of the delegates to include the name of the boy announced by the Dalai Lama for consideration was firmly rejected.

The conference is expected to conclude on November 11, 1995.