Published by World Tibet Network News - Wednesday, November 29, 1995

BEIJING, Nov. 29 (UPI) -- A "lucky" 6-year-old boy was chosen Wednesday as the reincarnation of Tibet's second holiest monk by drawing lots from a golden urn in a ceremony presided over by atheist Chinese government officials.

Flanked by his parents, Gyaincain Norbu, from Nagqu prefecture in northern Tibet, was picked at the Johkang monastery in the center of the Tibetan capital of Lhasa from three candidates.

The youngster "was the lucky number in the lot drawing" determining the recipient of the spirit of the 10th panchen lama, the official Xinhua news agency proclaimed, and defended the proceedings conducted with high-ranking leaders from Beijing as "strictly in accordance" with Tibetan Buddhism.

Tibetans in India loyal to the exiled dalai lama called the selection a farce.

"Tibetans under Chinese occupation have to unwillingly accept" whoever the Chinese pick, "but in their hearts they will be following Gedhun Choekyi Nyima," the choice of the dalai lama, Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, said Jampal Chosang, secretary of the Tibet Bureau in New Delhi.

The lot was drawn at dawn in front of a statue of Buddhism founder Sakyamuni after State Councilor Luo Gan read a document from China's cabinet-level State Council approving the three finalists. Ye Xiaowen, director of the council's Religious Affairs Bureau, pronounced the writing of the names on ivory slips correct.

The boy still needs the formal stamp of approval from the council.

The dalai lama's selection announced in May was totally disregarded along with pleas from human rights groups and foreign governments, including the United States, that Tibetans be allowed to carry out their religious affairs without interference from the communist government.

"We expected this to happen," said Tempa Tsering, a spokesman for the dalai lama's government-in-exile in Dharamsala, India. "The Chinese government was preparing for this in September."

"It appears Tibetans involved in the ceremony could not refuse to participate," Tsering said.

Joss sticks, candles and thousands of yak-butter lamps burned in the monastery decorated with pennants for the "grand ceremony," Xinhua said. Two young monks carried in the urn bestowed by the Qing dynasty emperor in 1792.

"Several hundred religious people, including members of the search group for the reincarnation, also attended," Xinhua said.

While the lot was drawn by Gandain Chaiba, a 77-year-old acting abbot, the result was verified by "all leading officials, senior monks and living Buddhas present."

Sources described the atmosphere in Lhasa as tense, however, with many residents opposed to the government's decision to ignore the dalai lama's choice announced in May.

The whereabouts of the boy arrested in Tibet are a mystery, but he is believed to be held in Beijing.

In Lhasa and Xigaze, the seat of the panchen lamas, authorities have mobilized the People's Armed Police in case of protests.

The late panchen lama died in 1989. Tibetan Buddhists believe the soul of a living Buddha migrates to a boy born shortly after his death.

Supporters of the dalai lama and human rights groups charge selection by lots has never been used on a regular basis, only as a last resort, and the dalai lamas and panchen lamas have conferred official recognition upon each other since the 1600s.

The Chinese authorities "don't believe in religion, so how can you expect them to follow traditions in a religious matter," Chosang said.

The Washington-based International Campaign for Tibet said it was the "first time ever that a Chinese government directly assumed total control over the entire process of the recognition of a Tibetan lama's reincarnation."

Beijing has "taken any expression by the Tibetan people of a distinct religious identity as a direct challenge to their control over Tibet and Tibetan affairs," the organization said.

China claims it acted in accordance with the final wishes of the 10th panchen lama and with 18th century traditions established after a Manchu emperor invaded Tibet.

A high-level meeting of lamas summoned to Beijing earlier this month narrowed the search to the three finalists.

The dalai lama's announcement of his choice outraged Beijing, which insisted confirmation by the central government was essential.

"His act ran against historical conventions, violated religious rituals, blasphemed Buddhist scriptures and obstructed the normal process for searching and determining the reincarnation," said the People's Daily, the official Communist Party organ.

Part of Beijing's strident campaign justifying its actions have been frequent claims that the dalai lama is trying to split China and stir up an independence movement.

The dalai lama fled into exile with 100,000 followers following an abortive 1959 uprising against Chinese rule.