AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL, INTERNATIONAL SECRETARIAT, 1 EASTON STREET, LONDON

WC1X 8DJ, UNITED KINGDOM

PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

Tibet: 6-year old boy missing and over 50 detained in Panchen Lama dispute

18 January 1996AI INDEX: ASA 17/07/96

Amnesty International is seriously concerned that a six-year old Tibetan

boy and his family have been missing from their home for eight months and

may be under restriction by the authorities. It is also concerned that

Chadrel Rinpoche, abbot of Tashilhunpo monastery and over 50 other monks

and laypeople, remain in detention in connection with the disputed choice

of the reincarnation of the 10th Panchen Lama, Tibet's second most senior

lama.

On 14 May 1995, the Dalai Lama, Tibet's exiled religious leader, announced

that six-year old Gendun Choekyi Nyima was the reincarnation of the 10th

Panchen Lama. Shortly after this announcement Gendun Choekyi Nyima and his

family are reported to have been taken from their home to Beijing and their

whereaboutshave been unknown ever since. The Chinese authorities have

disputed the Dalai Lama's authority to announce the discovery of the

reincarnated Panchen Lama and rejected Gendun Choekyi Nyima in November,

chosing instead another six-year old boy, Gyaltsen Norbu, as the 11th

Panchen Lama.

Gendun Choekyi Nyima was one of over 20 children discovered by a search

committee which was appointed more than six years ago by the Chinese

authorities. The leader of this official search committee, Chadrel

Rimpoche, the abbot of Tashilhunpo monastery, was detained in May

reportedly on suspicion of having communicated with the Dalai Lama about

the names of the children.

Meetings were called by the Chinese authorities throughout the summer of

1995 within Tibet's highest religious circles, encouraging them to denounce

the Dalai Lama's announcement. In November 1995, religious leaders in Tibet

were told by the authorities to prepare written and oral statements

criticizing the Dalai Lama and Chadrel Rimpoche.

Chadrel Rimpoche has been removed from his post in July as head of the

Tashilhunpo management committee and has been accused of communicating with

the Dalai Lama over the choice of the reincarnation. In a speech made on 24

November 1995, the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Tibet

Autonomous Regional Committee of the Chinese People's Political

Consultative Conference, criticized the Dalai Lama by name and indirectly

criticized Chadrel Rimpoche and others from Tashilhunpo Monastery: "he [the

Dalai Lama] arbitrarily announced the so-called reincarnated child of the

Panchen in violation of historical convention and the religious rituals of

Tibetan Buddhism ... I hope you will set an example by taking the lead in

exposing and criticizing the Dalai's crimes of undermining the work related

to the reincarnation of the Panchen and in thoroughly exposing and

criticizing the crimes of the former responsible persons of the Committee

for Democratic Administration at the Tashilhunpo Lamasery who colluded with

the Dalai; resolutely negate the so-called reincarnated boy arbitrarily

confirmed by the Dalai ..."

In two further official newspaper articles, Chadrel Rimpoche has been

criticized by name and accused of the "crimes" of cooperating with the

Dalai Lama's alleged attempts to "sabotage" and "violate" the search for

the reincarnation of the Panchen Lama. He is accused in some detail of

manipulating "religious rituals and the historical convention" to ensure

that Gendun Choeyki Nyima was chosen as the reincarnation. Chadrel Rimpoche

is also accused of lying about the age of Gendun Choekyi Nyima. On 21

August 1995, a Foreign Ministry spokesman denied that Chadrel Rimpoche was

in detention but said that he was ill and in hospital. Amnesty

International is concerned at continuing reports from Tibet which indicate

that he has been in custody since his detention in May 1995.

The New China News Agency also published a report at the end of November,

apparently aimed at discrediting Gendun Choekyi Nyima, saying that the boy

had once drowned a dog and calling this a "heinous crime in the eyes of

Buddha" which disqualifies him from becoming a leading lama. The report

described his parents as "notorious for speculation, deceit and scrambling

for fame and profit", adding that they were not "pious, honest and kind

people".

In late November 1995, China's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Shen Guofang,

said "we have no idea about the whereabouts of the so-called soul boy

determined by the Dalai Lama". He denied that Gendun Choekyi Nyima and his

family had spent the last few months in detention in Beijing and added that

"he is not missing, nor is he incarcerated", but that "he should be

wherever he was born". Amnesty International has received reports in

January 1996 that the boy and his family are not in their home and have not

been seen there since May last year.

Amnesty International remains concerned about over 50 other monks and

laypeople detained as a result of the reincarnation controversy. Eight

further detentions believed to be associated with the reincarnation dispute

have been reported: two lay-women were detained on 2 September 1995 from a

carpet factory run by the Tashilhunpo monastery and on 4 November 1995, six

monks were arrested for demonstrating outside the monastery.

The current situation of those reported to have been detained since May

1995 is not known, but among those still believed to be held are Chadrel

Rimpoche's assistant Champa Chung, Samdrup, a businessman from Shigatse and

Gyatrul Rimpoche, a lama from Tashilhunpo monastery. Others who were

reported to have been detained include, Shepa Kelsang, Lhakpa Tsering,

Ringkar Ngawang, Ngodrup, Tenzin, Tendor, Sherab, Tashi Dondrup, Tsering

Phuntsog, Chungdag, Pema, Penpa Tsering, Buchung, Sonam Phuntsok, Tenzin,

Gendun, Lobsang Tseten, Wangchuk, Pema Dorje, Lhakpa Tsering, Lobsang Dawa,

Tsering Gonpo, Dorje Gyaltsen (all monks from Tashilhunpo) and Sil Zhi and

up to 20 other unnamed monks and lay-people.

Please send telegrams/telexes/express and airmail letters in English,

Chinese or in your own language, expressing concern that Gendun Choekyi

Nyima and his family have not been seen at their home since May 1995 and

that it is feared they may be under restriction; calling on the Chinese

authorities to disclose their whereabouts and demanding that any

restrictions are lifted immediately and that Gendun Choekyi Nyima and his

family are free to return to their village and live without restriction or

harassment; calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Chadrel

Rimpoche, Gyatrul Rimpoche, Champa Chung, Samdrup and over 50 other monks

and laypeople who have been detained in connection with the dispute over

the 11th Panchen Lama.

Please send appeals to:

Premier of the PRC

LI Peng Zongli

Guowuyuan

9 Xihuangchenggenbeijie

Beijingshi 100032

People's Republic of China

Telexes: 210070 FMPRC CN Faxes: + 86 10 512 5810

Telegram: Premier Li Peng, Beijing,

China

Salutation: Your Excellency

Director of the State Council Bureau of

Religious Affairs

Zhang Shengzuo Juzhang

Guowuyuan Zongjiao Shiwuju

Guowuyuan

22 Xianmen Dajie

Beijingshi 100017

People's Republic of China

Telegram: Director of the State Council Bureau of Religious Affairs, Beijing,

China

Salutation: Dear Director

President of the Xizang Autonomous

Regional People's Government

Gyaltsen Norbu Zhuxi

Xizang Zizhiqu Renmin Zhengfu

1 Kang'angdonglu

Lasashi 850000

Xizang Zizhiqu

People's Republic of China

Telexes: 68014 FAOLT CN or 68007

PGVMT CN

Salutation: Dear President

Telegram: President of the Regional

People's Government, Lasa, Xizang

Autonomous Region, China

This document is sent to China and CHIRAN Coordinators for action by

groups. It is sent to Sections for information only. Check with the East

Asia Sub-Regional Team if sending appeals after 23 February 1996.