PANCHEN LAMA'S 11th BIRTHDAY At our maximum there were 35 of us on the 11th birthday of the Panchen Lama at the Vigil on Wednesday April 26. We all took our flowers across the road, which were all attached with a card reading 'blessings' in Tibetan and for the PANCHEN LAMA Gendehun Choekyi Nyima on his 11th birthday' in English, after a few minutes the duty policeman collected them and summoned a police van to take them away. The superficial reason given by the Diplomatic Protection group Policeman on duty was that he was "following orders from the British government to protect the dignity of the foreign power in residence, I felt that dignity was under threat so I decided to remove them". We remember that it was the police themselves who on March 10 1999 informed is that flowers placed on the pavement are acceptable and legal. Yet on March the 12th 2000 the police tried to prevent flowers being so placed. Since March the 12th the police have had time to reflect on whether it is their intention to prevent us acting in a non violent and legal manner. Apparently it is. Ringing around for comments on the night, Jane said "I found it really hurtful - what was the big deal? Why couldn't the flowers be left for an hour or two?. Please attend the next special vigil for the fifth anniversary of the kidnapping of the Panchen Lama on May the 17th 2000. Simon. See 12th March flower demo report.