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As usual, the wednesday vigil got under way peacefully and positively
at 6pm, and this time, was scheduled to end 3 hours later, at
9pm.
Aromatic incense was burnt and people held posters emblazoned
with the last known image of the youngster, taken just before
his disappearance at the age of 6, in 1995. Gedhun Choekyi Nyima,
the young Panchen Lama is the world's youngest political prisoner.
Everyone had brought flowers, which were duly taken by ' vigil-antes'
to the door of the Chinese Embassy and laid down. Jane managed
to get the attention of the embassy by waving flag and banner
at the closed circuit cameras, but no one came to accept the
flowers from the protesters.
An hour before the end of proceedings, Diana, accompanied by
faithful pooch Barney drove up in style , stopping at the red
light right in front of the vigil and hooting her car horn for
a full 3 minutes while waving a bunch of flowers at the embassy.
Well done that woman!! (and dog).
The vigil was well attended, 25 people gave voice for the last
half hour asking "Is the Panchen Lama still alive?"
After some tasty refreshment of lemon and ginger sparkling water
via Paula, the vigil ended as peacefully as it had begun, despite
the motorcycle policeman (who turned up at the last moment) removing
the flowers and gracing General Sikorski's statue with them.
All for the best I expect, as his wife may have wondered what
misdemeanour he was hiding , had he brought home the giant armful
of blooms!
It only remains to say, more power to your elbows (and voices)
good people of the wednesday vigil.
Elizabeth Lewis
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