published by: World Tibet Network News, Thursday,November 30, 1995

By Rod Mickleburgh, China Bureau

BEIJING, November 30, The (Toronto) Globe and Mail -- The decision by Chinese authorities to press ahead with their appointment of the reincarnated Panchen Lama appears likely to lead to the sharpest conflict in years within the isolated mountainous region of Tibet.

In an arcane, dawn ceremony yesterday ordained by China's Communist leadership and attended by a representative of the governing State Council, a shy six-year-old Tibetan boy was selected as the reincarnation of the 10th Panchen Lama, second only in religious authority among Tibetan Buddhists.

But the choice of Gyaincain Norbu flew in the face of the selection last May of another six-year-old, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, as the reincarnated Panchen Lama by the Dalai Lama, who has headed a Tibetan government-in-exile since fleeing the Chinese-ruled region in 1959.

The implications of the dispute go far beyond its obvious religious impact.

"This is a battle for the hearts and minds of Tibetans," said Tsering Shakya of the London-based Tibetan Information League [sic, Tibet Information Network]. "The Chinese see this as High Noon. It's their showdown with the Dalai Lama. There's bound to be an increase in tension within Tibet."

Mr. Shakya and other observers believe the Chinese government's determination to vilify the Dalai Lama and his reincarnation choice, despite its private acceptance by most of Tibet's religious leaders, means an end to a 15-year period of slightly more benign policies toward Tibet.

"There have been vestiges of religious tolerance and autonomy," said Robert Barnett, also of the Tibetan Information League. "Monasteries have been re-built. Tibetan has become an officially recognized language. Now, they're bringing the curtain down. There could be a major purge of Tibetan leaders."

Mr. Shakya said the situation is reminiscent of the Cultural Revolution and China's anti-rightist campaign of the late 1950s, when millions of individuals were singled out for attack throughout China.

Several dozen monks from the Panchen Lama's home base, the Tashilunpo monastery, already are believed to have been arrested for supporting the Dalai Lama's choice. Those detained include Chadrel Rimpoche, formerly chief of the monastery and head of Beijing's original search committee for the new Panchen Lama. He was dismissed from both posts after the Dalai Lama's announcement.

Also missing is Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the young Tibetan chosen by the Dalai Lama. He and his family are said to have been spirited out of Tibet by Chinese security police and installed in a closely guarded guesthouse in Beijing.

Meanwhile, the Chinese have escalated their verbal attacks against the Dalai Lama to a fever pitch, labelling him a traitor both to his country and his religion.

The media also have launched personal attacks against Chadrel Rimpoche and even against six-year-old Gedhun Choekyi Nyima. Xinhua, the government's official news agency, charged that the youngster had once drowned a dog. This is a "heinous crime in the eyes of the Buddha," the news agency said, making him ineligible to become a leading lama.

An editorial in today's People's Daily lays out the Chinese government's serious view of the dispute.

"Tibet's stability and the normal order of the Tibetan Buddhism sect can only be secured with an overt struggle against Dalai and by rooting out his influence," the editorial said.

Mr. Shakya said the bitterness ends any hope of reconciliation between the Dalai Lama and the Chinese government. Representatives of the two sides have met occasionally in the past "but politically, there is now a total breakdown."

"There's no way the two can be reconciled in the foreseeable future, and that means there will be no solution to the Tibetan problem."

Why the atheist Chinese leadership should have sought a fierce fight with the Dalai Lama over an issue of reincarnation is a mystery. Most observers believe it is an issue the Chiense cannot win. "In their heart of hearts, the Tibetan people simply won't accept the choice of the government over the choice of the Dalai Lama," Mr. Shakya said.

"They see the recommnedation of the Dalai Lama as absolutely essential to the choice of the reincarnated Panchen Lama. The Chinese are entering into big problems and they can't untie the knot."

However, the story continues to receive high-profile treatment in the Chinese media. Yesterday evening's television news carried a lengthy report on the selection of Gyaincain Norbu through an ancient ritual known as the "drawing of the lots."

The event took place in the holy Jokhang temple in Lhasa, before a crowd of sombre-looking monks and top Communist officials. They have argued the Dalai Lama's selection is illegal because he ignored the "drawing of the lots" and it was not approved by the central government. Although these requirements were laid down by the Qing Dynasty in 1792, scholars outside Tibet scoff at the suggestion they have any relevance in 1995.

"I think the last time the drawing of the lots was used was 1888," Mr. Barnett said.

Nevertheless, the names of the three boys left in the government-approved selection process were placed on ivory sticks and dropped into a golden urn. After the urn as given a good shaking, a recently promoted lama wearing a large yellow hat pulled out the ivory with Gyaincain Norbu's name on it.

Apparently oblivious to Tibetan Buddhist's serious belief in reincarnation, Xinhua referred to the final choice as the young boy's "lucky number".

At a ceremonial banquet, the new Panchen Lama -- termed the "soul boy" in media reports -- sat solemnly on high cushions, wearing rich yellow robes and a peaked hat. Beside him sat Luo Gan, secretary-general of China's powerful State Council, who received a ceremonial white scarf from the young lama.

Mr. Luo advised the boy to "study hard and carry forth the patriotic spirit of the 10th Panchen Lama."

In Toronto, Tibetan exiles and supporters are planning a demonstration in front of the Chinese consulate on Saturday to protest against the disappearance of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the Dalai Lama's choice.