Following the death of the 10th Panchen Lama in 1989, the search for an individual to be recognised as his reincarnation, by Tibetan Buddhists, quickly became mired in bureaucracy and controversy.[8]
Armed with Beijing's approval, the head of the Panchen Lama search committee, Chadrel Rinpoche, maintained private communication with the Dalai Lama in order to arrive at a mutually acceptable candidate for both the Dalai Lama and Beijing authorities concerning the Panchen Lama's reincarnation issue. [9] After the Dalai Lama named Gedhun Choekyi Nyima as the 11th incarnation of the Panchen Lama, Chinese authorities had Chadrel Rinpoche arrested and charged with treason. According to Tibet government in exile, he was replaced by Sengchen Lobsang Gyaltsen, so chosen because he was more likely to agree with the party line.[10] Sengchen had been a political opponent of both the Dalai Lama and the 10th Panchen Lama.[11]
The new search committee ignored the Dalai Lama's May 14 announcement and instead chose from a list of finalists. In selecting a name, lots were drawn from a Golden Urn, a tradition introduced to Tibet by the Chinese emperor in 1793.[12]Gyancain Norbu was announced as the search committee's choice on November 11, 1995.
