Padma Choling (right), governor of the Tibet autonomous region, at a press conference on the sidelines of an ongoing session of the National People's Congress on Sunday. [Feng Yongbin/China Daily]

Tibet governor: Only tradition can determine Dalai Lama's proper successor

Beijing: The newly-appointed governor of Tibet said on Sunday there is no way for the Dalai Lama to change the traditions of reincarnation, shattering the exile's dream of having a successor found outside the southwestern autonomous region.

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"There have been 14 Dalai Lamas ... It is unreasonable for him to do whatever he wants (about reincarnation). There's no way for him to do so," said Padma Choling, adding the 14th Dalai Lama himself was approved by the Nationalist government, the then central regime of China.

The governor made the remarks at a press conference on the sidelines of an ongoing session of the National People's Congress, the top legislature.

A Reuters report said on Sunday the Dalai Lama's health is declining, as witnessed by his recent hospital visits for pinched nerves, abdominal discomfort and gallstone surgery.

The Dalai Lama has floated several scenarios, including that his reincarnated successor may not be found in Chinese territory.

Qiangba Puncog, chairman of the standing committee of the Tibet autonomous regional people's congress, also said on Sunday that the reincarnation must meet the traditional requirements in four aspects: religious rituals, historical conventions passed on since the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912), lot drawing from the Golden Urn in front of the Buddha Sakyamuni, as well as approval from the central government.

"Any claimed reincarnation that fails to meet all these requirements will be illegitimate and invalid," he said.

Padma Choling also lampooned the Dalai Lama's indecision on his succession.

"The Dalai Lama has previously made a series of assertions, saying that he might choose his reincarnation while alive, that he could stop his reincarnation, that his reincarnation could be designated, that his reincarnation could be a female, or that his reincarnation would be found inside or even outside China," he said.

"People don't know which assertion is what he really wants."

The governor added there is currently no need to talk too much about issues related to the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, as he is still alive.

Meanwhile, Padma Choling said the "holy boy" picked by the Dalai Lama as the reincarnation of the 10th Panchen Lama was a victim.

After the 10th Panchen Lama died in 1989, the Dalai Lama announced in 1995 that a boy in northern Tibet was the successor of Panchen.

However, after lot-drawing in strict accordance with religious rituals and historical conventions in Tibetan Buddhism, the central government later approved another boy to be the 11th Panchen Lama and since then the "holy boy" appointed by the Dalai Lama keeps a very low-key life.

He and his family are now living a good life as ordinary citizens in Tibet. Some of his elder sisters and brothers are in universities or have already started working, Padma Choling said.

"He and his family are reluctant to be disturbed and they want to live ordinary lives," he said.

In response to questions regarding Tibet's regulations on foreigners' visits to Tibet, Qiangba Puncog said Tibet has nothing to hide and will make visits to the region easier in the future.

"Tibet is a very special place due to its high altitude, inconvenient traffic and other limited conditions," he said.

The current regulations could better protect the personal safety of foreigners, he said, citing a recent traffic accident in Tibet.

A truck with 35 people aboard crashed at a roadside hill on Saturday due to brake failure while heading for Sanyai Monastery, a famed Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Zhanang county in Tibet, killing 26 and injuring 9.

Qiangba Puncog also said Tibet is in a very stable condition at the moment and is expecting rapid development in the coming few years.

A riot instigated by overseas supporters of "Tibet independence" broke out in Lhasa in March, 2008. The rioters killed 18 people, injured 382 others and burned down seven schools, five hospitals and 120 homes.

"After the riot, the Tibetan people have learnt that stability is a blessing while separatism is disastrous," Qiangba Puncog said.

Xinhua contributed to the story