BY Navin Upadhyay
April 24, 2025
The recent death of Tulku Hungkar Dorje, a revered Tibetan Buddhist leader, in Chinese custody in Vietnam on March 29, 2025, has reignited global concern over a recurring pattern of suspicious deaths of Tibetan religious figures detained by Chinese authorities. The 56-year-old abbot of Lung-ngon Monastery in Golog, Qinghai, reportedly died days after his detention by Vietnamese police, allegedly in coordination with Chinese security operatives, following his flight from Tibet. The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) and human rights groups have condemned the incident as an “extrajudicial killing,” citing a lack of transparency, refusal to return his body, and the unauthorized cremation of his remains as evidence of a cover-up. This case is not isolated but part of a broader campaign of repression against Tibetan cultural and religious leaders, with several similar incidents documented over the years.
Tulku Hungkar Dorje: The Latest Case
Tulku Hungkar Dorje, born in 1969, was a prominent advocate for Tibetan culture, language, and education. He faced harassment after refusing to host a lavish reception for the Chinese government-appointed Panchen Lama, Gyaltsen Norbu, during a visit to Golog. Detained in Ho Chi Minh City on March 25, 2025, after fleeing Tibet, he died under mysterious circumstances four days later. Official claims of a heart attack or illness have been met with skepticism, especially after reports of intensified crackdowns at his monastery and the coerced statement from Lung-ngon Monastery claiming he died on a religious retreat. Tibetan NGOs and Human Rights Watch have called for an independent investigation, alleging transnational repression involving both Chinese and Vietnamese authorities.
ALSO READ: PM Modi Vows to Tracks and Hunt Pahalgam Attackers
Historical Cases of Suspicious Deaths
The death of Tulku Hungkar Dorje follows a troubling trend of Tibetan religious figures dying in custody under unclear or suspicious circumstances, often linked to their advocacy for Tibetan identity or resistance to Chinese policies. Below are notable cases:
- Tenzin Delek Rinpoche (2015)
Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, a respected Tibetan monk and community leader, died on July 12, 2015, while serving a life sentence in a Sichuan prison. Convicted in 2002 on dubious charges of orchestrating a bombing in Chengdu, his trial was widely criticized for lacking evidence and due process. Supporters reported that he endured torture, and his health deteriorated significantly in prison. Chinese authorities claimed he died of a heart attack, but they refused to release his body or allow an independent autopsy, fueling suspicions of foul play. His death sparked protests in Tibet and condemnation from global human rights groups, who viewed it as part of China’s efforts to silence influential Tibetan voices.
- Yeshi Lhakdron (2016)
Yeshi Lhakdron, a Tibetan Buddhist nun from Kardze prefecture in Sichuan, died in June 2016 while in custody, reportedly due to severe torture. Detained for her alleged involvement in religious activities deemed subversive, her death was attributed to “sudden illness” by authorities, but the Tibetan Center for Human Rights reported signs of physical abuse on her body. The lack of transparency and the refusal to allow family access to her remains echoed patterns seen in other cases, raising questions about the true cause of her death.
- Shukdar (2022)
In August 2022, Shukdar, a Tibetan monk from Sertar County, Sichuan, died in custody after being arrested with four others for holding religious activities. Authorities claimed he “died suddenly” and denied mistreatment, but his family reported he had no prior health issues. Tibet Watch noted that the authorities promised compensation but failed to deliver, and no independent investigation was conducted. The case highlighted the routine use of vague charges to target religious figures and the lack of accountability for custodial deaths.
ALSO READ: How the IWT Suspension Fits India’s Post-Pahalgam Security Calculus
- Tenzin Nyima (2021)
Tenzin Nyima, also known as Tamey, a 19-year-old monk from Sichuan’s Kardze prefecture, died in January 2021 after enduring severe beatings and torture in detention. Arrested in August 2020 for participating in a peaceful protest, he was released in critical condition and succumbed to his injuries at home. Radio Free Asia and the Congressional-Executive Commission on China documented his case, noting that his body showed signs of extreme abuse. Chinese authorities provided no explanation, and his death was seen as a stark example of the brutal treatment faced by young Tibetan activists. - Paltsal Kyab (2008)
Paltsal Kyab, a Tibetan protester, died in May 2008 in police custody in Sichuan after being detained during the 2008 Tibetan uprising. Arrested in April for his role in demonstrations, he reportedly died from injuries sustained during interrogation. Authorities claimed his death was due to natural causes, but his family was denied access to his body, and no investigation was conducted. The case, reported by the 2009 U.S. State Department human rights report, underscored the violent repression of Tibetan dissent and the lack of recourse for victims’ families.
These cases reveal a consistent pattern: Tibetan religious figures, often targeted for their cultural or spiritual influence, are detained on vague or fabricated charges, die under suspicious circumstances, and are subject to official narratives that lack credibility. Common elements include:
- Lack of Transparency: Authorities rarely provide detailed explanations or allow independent autopsies, as seen in the cases of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche and Tulku Hungkar Dorje.
- Coerced Statements: Monasteries under Chinese control, such as Lung-ngon in the cases of Tulku Hungkar Dorje and Humkar Dorje Rinpoche, issue statements attributing deaths to illness, often under apparent duress.
- Torture and Abuse: Reports of physical abuse, as in the cases of Tenzin Nyima and Yeshi Lhakdron, suggest that mistreatment in custody contributes to many deaths.
- Transnational Reach: The case of Tulku Hungkar Dorje in Vietnam highlights China’s growing use of transnational repression, with similar tactics used against dissidents like Dong Guangping in 2022.
Human Rights Watch and the CTA have pointed to China’s “Sinicization” policies, which aim to assimilate Tibetan culture into Han Chinese norms, as a driving force behind this repression. The refusal to recognize the Dalai Lama’s authority, interference in reincarnations, and crackdowns on religious expression—such as the “Send Dharma to the Monasteries” campaign—create an environment where Tibetan leaders face constant persecution.
ALSO READ: Silencing Hate-mongers: Heroism and Humanity in Pahalgam’s Dark Hour
International Response and Calls for Action
The international community has repeatedly condemned these incidents. The U.S. State Department’s 2024 report on Tibet documented ongoing arbitrary detentions and custodial deaths, urging China to respect religious freedom. Following Tulku Hungkar Dorje’s death, Tibetan NGOs, including the International Campaign for Tibet, demanded that Vietnam and China conduct transparent investigations and return his remains for traditional rites. Protests in Dharamshala on April 19, 2025, underscored global outrage, with activists warning that the cremation of his body was an attempt to destroy evidence.
Human rights advocates argue that these deaths violate international law, including the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning individuals to places where they face persecution. The Minnesota Protocol on the Investigation of Potentially Unlawful Death requires impartial probes, a standard unmet in these cases.
The suspicious deaths of Tibetan religious figures like Tulku Hungkar Dorje, Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, and others reflect a systematic effort to suppress Tibetan identity and silence influential voices. As China tightens its grip on Tibet through surveillance, forced assimilation, and transnational repression, the international community faces growing pressure to hold Beijing accountable. Without independent investigations and global intervention, the cycle of detention, torture, and unexplained deaths risks continuing, further eroding Tibetan cultural and religious heritage.
