Published by: World Tibet Network News, Thursday, May 16, 1996

Express News Service

DHARAMSALA, May 14: Hundreds of Tibetan Children walked down the Mcleodganj hills to Dharamsala town shouting slogans against China's imposition of "fake" Panchen Lama on tibet, as equal number of older Tibetans, including monks, registered their protest by sitting on hunger strike near the Daily Lama's palace in McLeodganj today. The occasion was commemoration of first anniversary of recognition of six-year-old Gedhun Choekyi Nyima as true reincarnation of Panchen Lama by the Dalai Lama.

The agitated kids carried banners and placards saying, "We do not recognise Chinese Panchen Lama", "China release the real Panchen Lama - youngest prisoner in the world immediately," and gave fiery speeches against Chinese repression, in the centre of the town. Children of the Gaddi community settled in this belt were seen actively supporting the Tibetans, "We are equally concerned about the child prisoner. It is a question of children' security in international circles", the leaders said at the site of hunger strike. All shops remained closed in protest.

According to information available at the Tibetan government headquarters here, similar protests were organised by Tibetans living all over the world. The Tibetan youth Congress and Women Association activists prominently participated in the agitation.

The Chinese government had reacted angrily to the announcement of reincarnation of Panchen Lama by the Daily Lama last year and had unleashed a spate of political and religious repression in Tibet following this. It had allegedly abducted this six-year-old Panchen Lama and abbot of TashiLhunpo monastery in Tibet (for colluding with the Daily Lama finding the reincarnation) in May last. While both the prisoner are still kept in secret by the Chinese officials, they selected another reincarnation of Panchen Lama six-year-old Gyachen Norbu in December.

China is reported to have launched a series of campaigns to denounce the Daily Lama and ensure that no public discussion of the reincarnation issue is heard of in Tibet. Over a hundred Tibetans have been jailed in connection with the reincarnation of Panchen Lama so far, reports day.

Tibetan welfare officer Dawa Tsering la said the government has sent a written appeal to all the parliaments across the world and religious and human rights organisation including Amnesty International for their intervention in support of safety and freedom of the young Panchen Lama. The Tibetans have urged the nations to press China to stop politicising the religious issues and violating the right to religious freedom of Tibetans and Buddhists all over the world and immediately release the true Panchen Lama, his family members and the abbot of Tashilhunpo monastery in Tibet