The Times of India News Service.

SHIMLA, December 11. The Tibetan Community is anxiously awaiting the Dalai Lama to come out of his "retreat" on December 19 for his reactions and instructions on the enthronement of Gyaltsen Norbu as the Panchen Lama by the Chinese authorities on December 8.

The Dalai Lama went into retreat on November 29, the day the Chinese authorities declared Norbu as the 11th Panchen Lama in defiance of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the six-year-old whom the Dalai Lama had identified as the reincarnation of the 10th Panchen lama on May 14 last.

Officials of the Tibetan government-in-exile are tight-lipped about any announcements that the Dalai Lama may make on the issue. Both his secretaries were out of town and all that the person attending the phone could say was that even they would only known anything more on the subject when the Dalai Lama ends his "retreat".

It is, however, gathered that the Dalai Lama is scheduled to go to the north-east and certain parts of the south where there are a sizable number of Tibetans before he leaves for a tour abroad early next year.

According to Thubten Samphel of the department of Information and international relations of the Tibetan government-in-exile at Mcleodganj during his three week "retreat", the Dalai Lama is "confined to his living quarters in the palace and is not communicating with anyone".

Mr Samphel, however, said the Dalai Lama was aware of all the happenings during the last fortnight which had been one of great turmoil and anguish for the Tibetan community the world over. "His Holiness is aware of what is happening through the newspapers."

Informed sources said the Dalai Lama was aware that the coming days would require a lot of patience and understanding and the situation had to be handled delicately as the future of Tibet and Tibetans would be at stake.

"He probably did not want to be disturbed during this period so he could go into deep meditation and prayer to assess the situation and what would be the best recourse to adopt," the source added.

They said it was impossible that the Dalai Lama would go against his declaration of Nyima as the 11th Panchen Lama and think of recognising Gyaltsen Norbu.

In a Press release issue on November 29, the Dalai Lama had said: "The search and recognition of the Panchen Lama's reincarnation is a religious matter. Because of the unique historical and traditional relationship between the Dalai Lamas and the Panchen Lamas, I conducted all the religious procedures with great care and then determined Gedhun Choekyi Nyima as the reincarnation of the late Panchen Lama's reincarnation cannot be changed."

Under the circumstances, it appears that the present stalemate over the two Panchen Lama will continue for sometime.