Taipei, February 13, 1996 (Deutsche Presse-Agentur) - A Tibetan monk visiting Taiwan claimed Tuesday that Tibetans plan to murder the Beijing-chosen reincarnation of the Panchen Lama, Tibet's second-highest spiritual leader who died in 1989.

"The security around him cannot be air-tight. He can be harmed in many ways, like food poisoning," one monk told the German Press Agency dpa asking not to be named.

Tibetan Buddhism is the fastest-growing religion in Taiwan. An average of 200-300 lamas arrive every month from India, Nepal or Tibet to teach the 500,000 believers.

"Tibetans in China are quietly talking that the false Panchen Lama will not live long. Several high lamas have predicted he cannot live beyond his 13th birthday," the monk said.

China - in a bid to undermine the spiritual authority of the Dalai Lama, Tibet's highest religious leader now living in exile - named six-year-old Gyaincain Norbu as the reincarnate Panchen Lama last December 8, six months after the Dalai Lama blessed six-year-old Gedhun Choekyi Nyima as the reincarnate.

Since his enthronement, Beijing has kept the whereabouts of the new Panchen Lama secret, triggering speculation that he is kept under house arrest in Beijing.

The Dalai Lama, 61, has been leading his government-in-exile in Dharamsala in north India since 1959, when some 20,000 Tibetans followed him into exile after an abortive revolt against Chinese troops.