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

By GULAM RASUL BAILAY

NEW DELHI, Dec. 2 (UPI) -- Hundreds of Tibetans demonstrated in the Indian capital Saturday against the Chinese government's recognition of a six-year-old boy as the reincarnation of Tibetan Buddhism's second holiest leader.

Protesters voiced their disapproval of Beijing's selection of Gyaincian Norbu as the 10th reincarnation of the Panchen Lama, after the Dalai Lama, Tibet's spiritual leader-in-exile, chose a different child earlier this year.

The demonstrators, holding placards, described China's move to appoint a rival Panchen Lama as interference in their religious affairs.

"We would like to send a clear and strong message to the Chinese Communist leadership," an official statement from the India-based Tibetan government-in-exile said. "This insult to our religious sentiment and national dignity will strengthen the unity and determination of people to oppose (China's) rule in Tibet."

In May, the Dalai Lama chose another six-year-old boy, Geuden Choekyi Nyima, as the recipient of the soul of the late Panchen Lama, who died in 1989.

"The Dalai Lama is the only person who has the right and spiritual authority to recognize the reincarnation of the Panchen Lama," a Tibetan spokesman said.

But Chinese authorities said their selection proceedings -- supervised by high-level communist officials -- were "strictly in accordance" with Tibetan Buddhism.

Tibetans loyal to the Dalai Lama, however, called the Chinese procedure a farce.

"The Chinese don't have any religion so they are just trying to take political advantage by installing a puppet as the Lama," said Tenzin Thinsley, a spokesman for the Tibetan Welfare Association.

An official Chinese newspaper in Tibet reported earlier this week the 81-year-old mother of the late Panchen Lama rejected the Dalai Lama's choice of her dead son's reincarnation, and urged Tibetans to respect Beijing's right to make the final decision.

However, Tibetans said the elderly woman, still in Tibet, was "made to say that" under duress.

Tibetans believe the struggle over the successor to the Panchen Lama could have long-term consequences for Tibet's ongoing independence movement, as the spiritual leader is charged with finding the next Dalai Lama.

The current Dalai Lama fled to India with 100,000 of his followers after an abortive 1959 Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule.