“China prepares to select the next Dalai Lama.” Reportage – 2007 “MCLEOD GANJ, India, 21 September 2007 — Tibetans in Dharamshala on Thursday marched in protest against a new Chinese law stating that a Tibetan Lama who is recognised as a reincarnation of a previous one, will have to be approved by the Chinese government.
“China says religion is poison. Why interfere now,” “Atheist China turns religious, believe it or not,” read some protest banners. The Tibetan government-in-exile slammed the new law as “ludicrous and unwarranted.” The Chinese government described the new law as an “important move to institutionalise the management of reincarnation of Living Buddhas (lamas).”
Another clause in the law says, “No outside organisation or individual will influence or control the reincarnation of living Buddhas.” The new regulations have not explicitly named the Dalai Lama, now aged 72, but the new law is obviously China’s covetous pre-emptive move towards selecting his next incarnation.
A Chinese Dalai lama will be their puppet, who will be used to propagandise Tibetans on China’s behalf, and to influence and govern Tibetans to go in the way China wants.
Exile Tibetans say the new regulations will not affect the selection of the next Dalai Lama, as the selection procedure is a traditional affair and is their prerogative, not that of the government of China.”
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