Gyaltsen Norbu, the Tibetan youth chosen by China to be the 11th Pachen Lama, or Tibet Buddhism’s second-highest ranking figure, will not become a member of this year’s parliament, as previously reported, because he is too young. China has been grooming the youth for higher political office, allowing him to meet with a top official last month. Reuters reports:
Sources had said Beijing’s choice, Gyaltsen Norbu, who turned 18 last month, could become a member of the elite Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, or parliament, as early as this month.
But parliamentary spokesman Jiang Enzhu said on Tuesday that the youth was not 18 when elections were held.
…”As far as I know, the Panchen Lama was not yet 18 when elections … were held. So he is not on the list of deputies this time,” Jiang said.
China’s state media have not mentioned elections, and Jiang did not elaborate on when they took place.
Norbu, however, is not recognized by Tibetans as the true reincarnation of the previous Panchen Lama. Another boy, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, who was chosen by the exiled Dalai Lama and has not been seen in public since 1995, is believed to be the “youngest political prisoner” of the Chinese government by international human rights groups.
