Beijing rejects Dalai Lama’s choice of child as Panchen Lama

Chinese authorities have said the child chosen by the Dalai Lama to become the Panchen Lama was "illegitimate and invalid".

China’s remarks on Sunday came about 15 years after they had rejected him. Beijing had anointed another child as Panchen Lama in 1995. The government also indicated at the press conference on Sunday that it would not agree if the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama serves the purpose of separatist politics.

"There have been 14 Dalai Lamas... It is unreasonable to do whatever he wants (about reincarnation) when it comes to the 14th Dalai Lama. There's no way for him to do so," Padma Choling, chairman of the Tibet autonomous regional government said.

Another official said the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama would be acceptable if it met four principals including the approval of the central government in Beijing.

Padma countered allegations that the government had caused the boy chosen by the Dalai Lama for the rank of Panchen Lama to vanish. "The boy was a victim, ... he and his family are reluctant to be disturbed, and they want to live an ordinary life," he said.

The Chinese government recently appointed its hand-picked Panchen Lama as a member of the Chinese parliament. Padma said he is deeply loved and supported by people of all ethnic groups in Tibet.

Qiangba Puncog, chairman of the Standing Committee of Tibet Autonomous Regional People's Congress, the regional legislature, said: "If the religion and the reincarnation issues serve separatists and politics, the Tibetan Buddhism disciples won't agree."

He listed the four principals as religious rituals, historical conventions passed on since the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912), lot drawing from the Golden Urn before the Buddha Sakyamuni and the approval from the central government. "Any claimed reincarnation that fails to meet all these requirements will be illegitimate and invalid," Qiangba said.

Padma began his remarks by saying: "The 14th Dalai Lama is still alive, and I think there is no need now to excessively talk about his reincarnation".

He also made light of certain statements made by the Dalai Lama on his incarnation. The Dalai Lama is supposed to have made four different assertions: that he might choose his reincarnation when alive; he could stop his reincarnation; his reincarnation could be a female; and his reincarnation would be found inside or even outside China.

- Asian Tribune -