Following the death of the 10th Panchen Lama in 1989, the search for his reincarnation quickly became mired in bureaucracy and controversy.[4]Chadrel Rinpoche, the head of the search committee, was able to secretly communicate with the Dalai Lama.[5] However, after the Dalai Lama announced Gedhun Choekyi Nyima as the new Panchen Lama, Chinese authorities arrested Chadrel Rinpoche, who was replaced with Sengchen Lobsang Gyaltsen.[6] Sengchen had been a political opponent of both the Dalai Lama and the previous Panchen Lama.[7] The new search committee ignored the Dalai Lama's May 14 announcement and instead chose from a list of finalists; the list excluded Gedhun Choekyi Nyima. In selecting a name, lots were drawn from the Golden Urn, a tradition introduced in 1793.[8]Gyancain Norbu was announced as the search committee's choice on November 11, 1995.
Whereabouts
The whereabouts of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima are unknown. The Government of Tibet in Exile claims that he and his family continue to be political prisoners, and has termed him the "youngest political prisoner in the world".[9] According to Chinese government claims, he is attending school and leading a normal life somewhere in China.[10] This cannot be verified by outside sources as no credible evidence has been provided to confirm or deny these claims.[11] The reason this evidence has been withheld, according to statements by Chinese authorities, is that his whereabouts are kept undisclosed to protect him[12].
