published by: World Tibet Network News, Saturday,December 24, 1995

From: DEBRA@OLN.comlink.apc.org (Debra Guzman)

International Herald Tribune

21 December 1995

New Delhi: Some 200 Tibetan monks urged China...Wednesday to release the six-year-old boy named by the Dalai Lama as the reincarnation of the Panchen Lama, the second most powerful figure in Tibetan Buddhism.

Displaying pictures of the boy, Gendun Choyki Nyima, the monks from the Tashi Lhunpo monastery in...India denounced the Chinese authorities for enthroning a rival candidate as Panchen Lama.

They expressed full support for Gendun Choyki Nyima, the Panchen Lama chosen by the supreme Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, and demanded...China immediately free this "true reincarnation."

Gendun Chokyi Nyima and his parents have been detained by the Chinese authorities since July, according to tibetan groups.

China enthroned a rival six-year-old boy, Gyaincain Norbu, earlier this month as the 11th Panchen Lama in a move denounced by the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government in exile.