The 16-year-old China-backed Panchen Lama Gyaltsen Norbu recently took a ten-day tour of the ethnic-Tibetan inhabited areas in Yunnan province and concluded that the province enjoyed full religious freedom and also called on the local Buddhists to show passion to the nation and the religion, and safeguard the country and benefit the people, reported the Chinese-government-owned news agency Xinhua.
The boy appointed by the Chinese government as the 11th Panchen Lama – in reaction to the Dalai Lama’s choice Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, whose whereabouts are yet to be ascertained – also praised the economic and social development and the harmonious religious environment of the province, according to Xinhua report.
Xinhua also said Gyaltsen visited temples in the Diqing (Tibetan:Dechen) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Deqin County, Lijiang City, and Binchuan County and performed benediction rituals to more than 40,000 followers. He was quoted as expressing “satisfaction over the implementation of the religious policies initiated by the Communist Party of China”
This trip by the Chinese government-appointed Panchen lama followed closely the April 13-16 World Buddhist Forum organised by the Chinese government where conditions were set to raise the profile and legitimacy of Gyaltsen Norbu who is viewed by most Tibetans as Panchen Zuma (the fake Panchen).
The fate of the Dalai Lama recognised Panchen Lama still remains uncertain as the Chinese government has repeatedly refused access to the boy and his family who disappeared on May 18, 1995.
