Published by World Tibet Network News - Tuesday - November 28, 1995

source: voice of america - 24 Nov 1995

Forworded by : DEBRA@OLN.comlink.apc.org

intro: a chinese religious expert says no harm will come to the boy who was named by Tibet's top spiritual leader as the reincarnation of the Panchen Lama, the second highest tibetan leader. as v-o-a's stephanie ho reports, chinese officials have almost daily criticized the Dalai Lama for choosing the boy without beijing's approval.

text: the Dalai Lama's announcement in may of his choice for the reincarnation of the tenth panchen lama put him in direct conflict with the chinese government -- which accuses the exiled tibetan leader of using religion to try to split tibet from china.

China answered by stepping up verbal attacks on the Dalai Lama, and earlier this month announced that it had found its own three candidates for the soul boy - or reincarnation - and would proceed with the ritual drawing of one name from a golden urn. Chinese officials made it clear that the Dalai Lama's candidate will not be included.

In previous official chinese publications, religious experts and even the former Panchen Lama himself have been quoted as saying the dalai and panchen lamas must mutually recognize the other's reincarnation.

However, in an interview friday, Wu Yungui - the director of the institute of world religions at the state-run chinese academy of social sciences - said he feels the Dalai Lama has no right to name a soul boy.

"He ignored the right of the central government, so what he decided is invalid." Wu said.

Mr. Wu said although the government has no prejudice against the boy chosen by the Dalai Lama and considers him an innocent child, he is still not an acceptable candidate for the panchen lama's reincarnation.

"What we can say at the moment [is that] he will not be among the candidates, but we can do nothing, we will do nothing against him."

Meanwhile, the religious scholar said the golden urn drawing ceremony will take place very soon.

"I can't say what date it will happen, but we can say it will not wait for long."

The religious affairs bureau of the state council - China's highest governing body - said buddhist authorities are working to determine an auspicious date for the elaborate ceremony.

Spokesmen for the Dalai Lama have said tibetans will not recognize as the legitimate reincarnation any child other than the one chosen by the Dalai Lama. they say that to them, a child chosen from among the three officially sanctioned candidates will be nothing more than a pretender.