Published by World Tibet Network News - Saturday, 2 December 1995

Source: Xinhua news agency domestic service, Beijing, in Chinese 1317 gmt - 29 Nov 95

Lhasa, 29th November: The State Council specially approved the succession of Gyaincain Norbu as the 11th Panchen Erdini Bainqen Erdini this afternoon.

Gyaincain Norbu was confirmed as the 11th Panchen Erdini early this morning at a ceremony in which lots were drawn from a golden urn. The ceremony was held in front of the statue of Sakyamuni at the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa; was presided over by the representatives sent by the State Council; and was in accordance with religious rituals and historical convention. The Tibet Autonomous Regional People's Government telegraphed the confirmation to the State Council for approval this morning.

A ceremony to register the 11th Panchen Erdini was held in Xueliduojibozhang, the temporary dwelling place in Lhasa of the Great Master Panchen Lama in 1600. State Councillor Luo Gan, representative of the State Council, announced the "reply concerning the special approval of the confirmation by drawing lots from an golden urn of the succession of Gyaincain Norbu to the 11th Panchen Erdini", which was issued by the State Council that very day.

The following is the full text of the State Council's reply:

"The Tibet Autonomous Region People's Government:

The request for State Council approval of the confirmation by drawing lots from a golden urn of the succession of Gyaincain Norbu as the 11th Panchen Erdini,' which your region submitted on 29th November 1995, has come to hand. The State Council specially approved Gyaincain Norbu, born in Lhari County, the Tibet Autonomous Region, on 13th February 1990 (19th December of the 17th merciful Chinese: rao jiong 7437 6608 Earth Snake year in the Tibetan calendar) and confirmed as the reincarnation of the 10th Panchen Erdini by drawing lots from a golden urn."

Comrade Luo Gan said: "Let me take this opportunity to tell you that Jiang Zemin, Li Peng, Qiao Shi, Li Ruihuan and other central leading comrades expressed their warm congratulations after hearing of the complete success of the lottery, and they hope you all make persistent efforts to do a good job with the next step."

Before the ceremony, Comrade Luo Gan cordially held Gyaincain Norbu's hands and led him to the front of the gate. He said: "I hope you will carry on the patriotic tradition of the previous Panchens, study well, and love both the country and religion. Good luck and happiness to you za xi de le; Tibetan: Tashi Deleg !"

The 11th Panchen Erdini and his parents thanked Luo Gan, representative of the State Council, Special Commissioners Gyaincain Norbu and Ye Xiaowen, and presented them each with a hada white silk scarf .

Pagbalha Geleg Namgyai, vice-chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, vice-president of the Buddhist Association of China, and chief adviser on the location of the boy reincarnation of the Panchen, read out a telegram of congratulations from the Buddhist Association of China. Zhao Puzhu, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference CPPCC , president of the Buddhist Association of China, and chief adviser on locating the boy reincarnation of the Panchen especially sent his representatives to offer congratulations.

Present at the ceremony were persons in charge of the party committee, the people's congress, the government, the CPPCC and departments concerned in the Tibet Autonomous Region; members of the leading group and the group of advisers on locating the boy reincarnation of the Panchen Lama; other master Buddhist monks; members of the Tibet Autonomous Region's leading group on the Panchen' s Reincarnation; persons in charge of the party committee and administrative office of Xigaze Prefecture, home to the Zhaxi Lhunbo Lamasery of which the Panchens were in charge; and the person in charge of the Zhaxi Lhunbo Lamasery's Democratic Management Committee .