DHARAMSHALA, April 9: — The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) has called for an independent and transparent investigation into the sudden death of prominent Tibetan religious leader Tulku Hungkar Dorje, who reportedly died in Chinese custody in Vietnam on March 28.
According to the CTA, Hungkar Rinpoche had been living in hiding in Ho Chi Minh City since September 2024 after repeated harassment by Chinese authorities in Tibet. He was arrested on March 25 from a hotel room in a joint operation involving Vietnamese police and Chinese agents, and died three days later at a local public security office under unclear circumstances.
“The suspicious death of Tulku Hungkar Dorje highlights the ongoing suppression of human rights in Tibet, where people live under constant fear of arrest for the slightest expression of Tibetan identity,” said CTA spokesperson Tenzin Lekshay.
CTA officials described the incident as part of a broader pattern of China’s “transnational repression,” citing concerns over law enforcement cooperation that disregards international human rights standards.
The body of Hungkar Rinpoche is reportedly being held at Vinmec Central Park International Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City. The CTA has demanded that his remains be released to Lungnon Monastery in Tibet for traditional rites.
On April 5, five monks from his monastery—accompanied by Chinese officials—traveled to Vietnam to collect the body. A meeting was held at the Chinese Embassy the same day, but Tibetan monks were barred from participating. It remains unclear if they viewed the body or succeeded in repatriating it.
The CTA also alleged that in 2024, Chinese authorities pressured Hungkar Rinpoche to host Gyaltsen Norbu, the Beijing-appointed Panchen Lama, at his monastery—a request he reportedly did not comply with fully.
Lekshay called the case a “troubling escalation” in China’s persecution of Tibetan religious figures. “This illustrates the systematic repression faced by those who promote Tibetan identity, language and culture,” he said.
The CTA has urged the international community to condemn the incident, press Chinese and Vietnamese authorities for transparency, and support the immediate release of the body to ensure proper religious rites are observed.
Human rights groups and Tibetan communities worldwide have expressed alarm over the case, citing the growing threat to religious minorities and the need for accountability in cases of cross-border detentions.
