Hindustan Times Dec 11, 95

BEIJING, DEC, 10 (PTI) China by exercising its authority in the selection of the 11th Panchen lama, has only given credence to the growing fear that the Dalai Lama, the Panchen Lama and all the revered holders of the faith, would "disappear and become nameless."

An article in Time magazine, to be published on Monday, says "by selecting its own Panchen Lama, China seeks not only to reassert its power over Tibet but also to control the education of the boy, who will one day lead the search for the news Dalai Lama, Tibet's god-king."

The Dalai Lama reaffirmed his choice and insisted "my recognition of the Lama's reincarnation cannot be changed." the report says. He (the Dalai Lama) may have been recalling the words of his own predecessor, who before his death in 1933 gave this warning, the article says.

"Unless we guard our won country, it will not happen that the Dalai and Panchen Lama, the father and the son, and all the revered holders of the faith will disappear and become nameless," the article says.

Meanwhile, in a recent editorial in the Hong Kong based South China Morning Post said because of fears about the influence of the Dalai Lama, the exiled god King Beijing "is determined to sideline him in his spiritual and secular roles."

"If that is the aim, the Chinese authorities appear to have mishandled the situation, " it said adding their refusal to recognise six-year-old Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the Dalai Lama's choice as the 11th reincarnation of the Panchen Lama, and the choice instead of Gyaincain Norbu as a rival pretender may well strengthen support for the Dalai Lama and breathe a "new life into tibetan irredentism."

Media reports quoting observes said the haste and secrecy with which China has conducted the selection and enthronement reflect "fears of provoking widespread unrest."

The reports also said a purge of the Tibetan clergy was under way and those who avoided attending the selection ceremony are thought to be in trouble.

The Time magazine, giving a vivid description of the selection ceremony in November, says "Norbu looked frightened, as well as he should."

"With the turn of a golden urn and a handshake, he became a central figure in what promise to be long and bitter war between Tibet and a Communist government determined to retain control of the troublesome province, right upto choosing its top religious leaders," the report says.

For six years, China had insisted on its authority to select the Panchen Lama, but in May, following ancient Tibetan custom and practices, the Dalai Lama announced that he had chosen six-year-old Gedhun Choekyi Nyima as the new Panchen Lama.

Officials in Beijing were enraged and soon thereafter, Nyima disappeared from his home village along with his parents, prompting accusations of a Chinese kidnapping, it says.

"The communist government declared the Dalai Lama's choice invalid and proceeded with its own selection via the golden-urn method, which some Tibetans claim is used only when all the other divinations fall," the article says.

China denies having abducted the Dalai Lama's golden child but has started a propaganda campaign against him, saying his family was "notorious".