The Tibetan exile community and human rights organizations are demanding answers following the suspicious death of esteemed Tibetan Buddhist leader Tulku Hungkar Dorje while in Chinese custody. The 10th abbot of Lungngon Monastery in Golog, Amdo, Tulku Dorje had fled Tibet in September 2024 after increasing harassment from Chinese authorities, only to be arrested in Vietnam and secretly handed over to Chinese agents. Within days, he was dead.
Sources report that Tulku Dorje was detained in Ho Chi Minh City on March 25, 2025, and transferred to Chinese custody. By March 28, he had died under unexplained circumstances. Chinese officials informed select Tibetan representatives of his death but withheld all key details, refusing initially to release his body. Instead, Vietnamese and Chinese authorities orchestrated a rushed cremation under tight security, denying the family and Tibetan religious community any meaningful opportunity for investigation or final rites.
The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) and the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile have condemned the handling of Tulku Dorje’s death as part of a “disturbing pattern” of Chinese transnational repression. “This tragedy highlights the extent to which China will go to silence Tibetan voices, even beyond its borders,” said CTA President Penpa Tsering in a statement. Candlelight vigils, protests, and prayer ceremonies have been held by Tibetans around the world, from Dharamshala to New York.
Human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch and PEN International, have called for an independent investigation, warning that Tulku Dorje’s death is emblematic of a growing trend of transnational repression targeting Tibetans, Uyghurs, and dissidents abroad. “This is not only a Tibetan issue,” stated Maya Wang of Human Rights Watch. “It challenges the principles of international law and safe haven for political refugees.”
Adding to concerns, Vietnamese authorities’ cooperation in the detention and cremation has sparked accusations that Hanoi is enabling Beijing’s repression. Vietnamese civil society activists argue that the country risks undermining its sovereignty and international reputation by assisting China’s crackdown on peaceful religious figures.
Meanwhile, Chinese state media has remained silent on the case, while Tibetan sources inside Tibet report that memorials for Tulku Dorje have been banned and individuals posting tributes have been detained.
Tulku Hungkar Dorje’s death is galvanizing the Tibetan diaspora and their allies to intensify their calls for justice, transparency, and protection for Tibetan communities worldwide. As of this writing, demands for an international inquiry and diplomatic accountability continue to mount, ensuring that the quest for truth in this tragic case is far from over.
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