Tibetans do not identify China appointed Panchen Lama when they were asked about him says The Washington Post bureau Chief in Beijing. He told that Tibetans only identified the six year old Panchen Lama recognised by the Dalai Lama. They did not relate to the Chinese appointed Panchen; Gyaltsen Norbu despite Chinese propaganda.
“Indeed, mention the Panchen Lama to many Tibetans and they start talking about a 6-year-old boy, recognized by the Dalai Lama as the true reincarnation of the Panchen Lama in 1995, who immediately disappeared into Chinese custody and was referred to as the world’s youngest political prisoner.” said Simon Denyer in his report in The Washington Post.
China has recently strengthened its push in promoting its appointed Panchen Lama. Gyaltsen Norbu went to visit most of the schools, hospitals and monasteries across Tibet and they even organised a Kalachakara in last July to push him forward for acceptance from Tibetans.
The report said that it is a preparation from the Chinese government to make Gyaltsen as highest religious figure in Tibetan community post Dalai Lama, who is 81 this year. However, the author has found that the enthusiasm was not there among the Tibetans for the Chinese appointed figure.
“But on a recent visit to Tibet, it was hard to find much enthusiasm for the Chinese Panchen Lama, as many people know him.”
Simon Denyer recently visited Tibet during one of rare opportunities provided by China for foreign journalists. He reported this following his visit to Tibet and in a similar report after his visit, he stated that Tibet is more restricted and inaccessible than the North Korea.
However, Simon got the opportunity to perform the first ever Facebook live streaming from Tibet in front of the Potala palace!