Demanding Truth and Justice: The Suspicious Death of Tulku Hungkar Dorje

9th April 2025 / GATPM

China and Vietnam Must Answer for Their Roles in the Death of a Revered Tibetan Religious Leader

The Global Alliance for Tibet & Persecuted Minorities (GATPM) strongly condemns the suspicious death of Tulku Hungkar Dorje, a prominent Tibetan religious leader, while in the custody of Chinese authorities in Vietnam. His sudden demise on 28 March 2025 raises grave concerns about the growing pattern of transnational repression, the blatant violation of human rights, and the unchecked power of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in targeting Tibetan leaders beyond Tibet’s borders. We call for an immediate and independent investigation into the circumstances of his detention and death, and demand accountability from both the Chinese and Vietnamese governments.

Background: The Persecution of Tulku Hungkar Dorje

Tulku Hungkar Dorje, born in 1969 in Tibet’s Amdo province, was a highly respected spiritual leader and social reformer dedicated to the preservation of Tibetan identity through education, healthcare, and cultural initiatives. His work in founding the Hungkar Dorje Vocational Technical High School, Hungkar Compassion Medical Clinic, and the Excellent Discourse Key Library directly benefited thousands of Tibetans, particularly marginalised groups.

Despite his contributions to Tibetan society, he was subjected to repeated harassment by Chinese authorities. In August 2024, he was interrogated by Qinghai provincial officials for allegedly composing long-life prayers for His Holiness the Dalai Lama and failing to implement Chinese government policies in his educational work. His refusal to fully comply with China’s directives – including resisting pressure to host the Chinese-appointed Panchen Lama, Gyaltsen Norbu – led to increasing persecution. Fearing for his safety, he went into hiding in Vietnam in late September 2024.

Arrest, Detention, and Mysterious Death

On 25 March 2025, Tulku Hungkar Dorje was arrested from his hotel room in Saigon, Vietnam, in a joint operation between Vietnamese police and Chinese secret agents. He was transferred to a local public security office on 28 March, where he mysteriously died that same day. The refusal of authorities to release details surrounding his death strongly suggests foul play.

Chinese officials later presented a death certificate to Lungnon Monastery in Tibet on 1 April 2025 but forbade those present from keeping or photographing the document. Five monks from the monastery were sent to Vietnam on 5 April to retrieve his body, yet they were reportedly excluded from a critical meeting at the Chinese Embassy in Vietnam. As of today, it remains unclear whether they were allowed to see the body, let alone return it for proper Buddhist rites. The body is reportedly being held at Vinmec Central Park International Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, raising further suspicions about the handling of the case.

A Clear Case of Transnational Repression

The abduction and death of Tulku Hungkar Dorje exemplify China’s growing pattern of extraterritorial repression, where Beijing’s influence extends beyond Tibet’s borders to silence Tibetan leaders abroad. This case also calls into question Vietnam’s complicity in aiding Chinese authorities in the unlawful capture of a persecuted Tibetan religious figure on foreign soil.

The GATPM strongly condemns Vietnam’s participation in this transnational human rights violation and calls for transparency in its cooperation with the CCP. The Vietnamese government must answer for its role in the illegal arrest and subsequent death of Tulku Hungkar Dorje.

A Pattern of Targeting Tibetan Religious Leaders

The persecution and suspicious death of Tulku Hungkar Dorje are not isolated incidents but part of China’s systematic crackdown on influential Tibetan religious and cultural figures. Similar cases of arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, and unexplained deaths of Tibetan monks and scholars have been well-documented:

• Tenzin Delek Rinpoche (2015) – A revered Tibetan monk who died under mysterious circumstances while serving a life sentence in a Chinese prison.
• Khenpo Kartse – Arbitrarily detained and sentenced despite his humanitarian work.
• Gedhun Choekyi Nyima – The 11th Panchen Lama recognised by the Dalai Lama in 1995, forcibly disappeared by Chinese authorities at age six and missing for nearly three decades.

These cases highlight the Chinese government’s relentless strategy to eliminate Tibetan voices advocating for cultural and religious freedom.

Calls for Action

The Global Alliance for Tibet & Persecuted Minorities demands the following:

1. An Independent International Investigation – The United Nations and human rights bodies must launch a transparent inquiry into the arrest, detention, and death of Tulku Hungkar Dorje.
2. Immediate Release of His Body – The Vietnamese and Chinese governments must allow his body to be returned to Lungnon Monastery for proper Buddhist rites.
3. Vietnam’s Accountability – The Vietnamese government must explain its role in facilitating this unlawful arrest and clarify whether it acted under direct Chinese orders.
4. Sanctions on Chinese and Vietnamese Officials – Governments around the world must impose sanctions on individuals responsible for the detention and death of Tulku Hungkar Dorje.
5. Global Condemnation of Transnational Repression – The international community must pressure China to end its persecution of Tibetan religious and cultural figures, both inside Tibet and abroad.

Conclusion

The suspicious death of Tulku Hungkar Dorje is a stark reminder of the grave dangers faced by Tibetan leaders at the hands of Chinese authorities. It underscores the growing threat of transnational repression, where China’s influence extends beyond its borders to silence Tibetans worldwide. The international community cannot remain silent. We call upon governments, human rights organisations, and global leaders to demand answers, hold China and Vietnam accountable, and ensure that Tibetan religious figures are not targeted for upholding their identity and beliefs.

We stand in solidarity with the Tibetan people and vow to pursue justice for Tulku Hungkar Dorje.

Global Alliance for Tibet & Persecuted Minorities
9th April 2025