Forwarded by debra@oln.comlink.apc.org

byline=stephanie ho

dateline=beijing

source: voice of america

intro: china's rejection of a boy chosen by the top tibetan spiritual leader (the dalai lama) as the reincarnation of the second-highest tibetan leader -- the panchen lama -- came as no surprise to most observers. however, as v-o-a's stephanie ho reports, china's announcement sunday may have raised more questions than it answered.

text: the search for the reincarnation of the panchen lama was plastered on the front page of most chinese newspapers monday -- complete with a photo of president jiang zemin posing with the search team.

although the picture is apparently aimed at showing consensus, china's announcement of its three panchen lama candidates is expected to widen the rift between beijing and tibet.

the state-run xinhua news agency sunday quoted senior lamas of the tashilunpo monastery -- the panchen lama's traditional seat of power -- as saying they absolutely would not recognize the soul boy chosen by the dalai lama.

other than attacking the dalai lama for not following correct religious procedures in making his announcement in may, the report gave no specific explanation as to why the communist government rejected the six-year-old boy -- whose wherabouts remain unknown.

reached by telephone monday, relevant offices in beijing and lhasa said they could not confirm the boy's location. some news reports have said he is being held in beijing. however, jampal chosang -- a spokesman for the dalai lama's office in new delhi -- says he believes the boy is still in tibet, but possibly under house arrest.

mr. chosang says, because the chinese government has already disqualified the boy as the panchen lama's reincarnation, he hopes authorities will leave the boy alone.

// chosang actuality //

all we have been saying is that the boy should be allowed to pursue his spiritual studies. either that could be in tibet, itself, or if he is allowed to go out of tibet, also.

// end actuality //

chinese president jiang is quoted by official media as urging work to identify the panchen lama's reincarnation from among the three official candidates proceed quickly. the names of the three boys will be placed into a golden urn, for a ritual drawing ceremony that takes seven days to complete.

however, official reports do not say when or where the golden urn ceremony will take place. dalai lama spokesman chosang says he feels most tibetans -- whether inside or outside of tibet -- will not accept the panchen lama candidate set up by the chinese government. (signed)