Published by: World Tibet Network News, Tuesday, Apr 30, 1996

Letters to the Editor, Eastern Express

Hong Kong, April 29th 1996

According to a Reuter report carried in Eastern Express last week under the heading, "Buddha Roles found for Panchen losers";

"The children who were almost chosen as the latest reincarnation of the Panchen Lama, Tibet's second highest spiritual leader, are now living Buddhas, Xinhua (the New China News Agency) said.

Tsering Wangdu and Ngawang Namdrol who were both six when they were runners up for the elevation to Panchen Lama last year, had been chosen as the reincarnations of other living Buddhas, it (Xinhua) said.

Boys who were almost selected as either the Panchen Lama or the Dalai Lama enjoyed a revered position in Tibet and were first in line if any other living Buddhas needed a reincarnation, Xinhua said."

The very use of the word "chosen" demonstrates the Chinese authorities don't know what they are talking about. By their ignorance on the subject of reincarnation, they automatically negate their claims to "supreme authority" in the matter.

There is no "selection" or "choice" to be made - there is only one correct answer. The reincarnation can only be "recognised" or "identified" as the continuity of the previous person.

The Chinese manifest lack of understanding and disrespect apparently views possible incarnates as a labour pool to be drawn on even without qualified validation.

Because they lack any understanding of the process of death and rebirth, the Chinese have been unable to disprove the Dalai Lama's identification of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, wrong.

A report in Eastern Express on 20th April claims authorities in China are making plans for the long term detention of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and his parents. The report cites ICT as having received unconfirmed reports that the Beijing Public Security Bureau has established a dedicated budget for Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and his parents. Bhuchung Tsering of ICT is quoted as saying, "it seems he'll be under detention for a long time".

The report also claims Beijing consistently denies any knowledge of the missing family's whereabouts and that The United Nations Working Group on Enforced of Involuntary Disappearances said it made official representation on behalf of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and his parents last year but was informed in a lengthy official response from China that, "there has never been any case of... kidnapping and disappearance of the family of the reincarnated child", and rumours of their detention were a "mere fabrication by the Dalai Lama group"

The Eastern Express report goes on to suggest that the Chinese are hesitating over plans to educate their own "choice" at Tashilunpo because of possible continuing resistance among Tibetans.

It is vitally important to keep international attention focused on this issue as the Chinese appear intent to play for time during which anything could (be made to) happen.

A serious international campaign for the release into exile of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima may provide the Chinese with a way out of a very difficult problem.