UNPO strongly condemns the death of Tibetan monk Hungkar Rinpoche, a revered spiritual leader, educator, and advocate for the preservation of Tibetan culture and identity, who died in Chinese custody shortly after his detention in Vietnam. According to reports by the Central Tibetan Administration, the Lungnon Monastery in Tibet, and human rights organizations, Hungkar Rinpoche fled from Tibet to Vietnam in September 2024 to escape escalating harassment by Chinese authorities. On 25 March 2025, he was arrested from his hotel room in Ho Chi Minh City during a coordinated operation involving local Vietnamese police and Chinese agents. He was reportedly transferred to Chinese custody on March 28, where he died on the same day. This tragic event shows a clear increase of transnational repression, and grave human rights violations in the region, where states enable or permit foreign repression within their borders, endangering the lives of individuals who are fleeing persecution and systemic discrimination. The circumstances of his death demand an immediate, independent, and transparent investigation, as well as full accountability from both Vietnamese and Chinese authorities.
Hungkar Rinpoche was not only a revered spiritual leader but also a symbol of hope and resilience for the Tibetan people.Over the course of his life, he authored more than twenty books and tirelessly advocated for the preservation of the Tibetan language, Buddhist traditions, and cultural practices, emphasizing their vital role in maintaining the identity and resilience of the Tibetan community. Throughout his life, he remained deeply devoted to the service of others and to the preservation of Tibetan traditions and cultural identity. In 2005, Tulku Hungkar Dorje founded the first Buddhist nunnery in the history of the Golog region, significantly advancing the role of women in Tibetan monastic life; he also established several educational institutions, including the Hungkar Dorje Ethnic Vocational High School and the Mayul Center of Studies, providing free education to Tibetan children from local nomadic families. Further demonstrating his deep dedication to the welfare of his people, Hungkar Rinpoche spearheaded numerous humanitarian initiatives through the Gesar Shenpen Foundation, which he founded in 2004. Through this foundation, he organized the free distribution of food, clothing, and medicine to thousands of Tibetans, including monks, nuns, and elderly individuals in need.
Hungkar Rinpoche’s life was a testament to the enduring strength of Tibetan cultural and spiritual values, and his passing represents an immeasurable loss not only for the Tibetan community but for all those who believe in the universal right to cultural preservation, religious freedom, and human dignity. His tireless commitment to the well-being of his community and to safeguarding its spiritual and cultural heritage made him a powerful source of inspiration, and, tragically, a target of political persecution, culminating in his suspicious and untimely death. His loss marks a troubling escalation in China’s systematic efforts to silence influential Tibetan figures and erase Tibetan culture, and his case once again exposes the dire reality in Tibet, where the mere expression of cultural or religious identity can lead to harassment, persecution, and death.
The persecution of Tibetan monks by the Chinese government has deep historical, political, and cultural roots
In 1950, the Chinese army invaded Tibet, swiftly annexing the region and declaring the Tibetan government illegitimate. Tibet was subsequently divided, with parts of its territory incorporated into neighboring Chinese provinces. By 1964, the remaining area had been reorganized into what is now known as the Tibet Autonomous Region, officially designated as a special administrative province of China.
For the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), Tibet represents a crucial pillar of its vision of “national sovereignty” and territorial unity. From Beijing’s standpoint, any expression of cultural or religious identity that fosters a sense of “separateness” or autonomy from central authority is seen as a direct challenge to its control.
Tibetan monasteries are not just places of worship; for centuries, they have served as centers of moral, cultural, and educational identity for the Tibetan people. Monks, as custodians of religious tradition and supporters of the Tibetan cause, embody an authority capable of inspiring sentiments of resistance and autonomy. For this reason, the Chinese government views them as potentially subversive elements.
As part of a broader strategy of cultural assimilation, the Communist Party promotes the so-called “sinicization” of minorities, imposing Han Chinese culture as the dominant model. In this context, Tibetan Buddhism is systematically marginalized: monks are subjected to strict control, religious education is severely restricted, and monasteries are placed under intense surveillance, including the installation of cameras and the presence of government officialsThrough arbitrary arrests, forced re-education campaigns, constant surveillance, and severe restrictions on religious freedom, the People’s Republic of China seeks to sever the deep connection between the Tibetan people and their cultural and spiritual identity. In this sense, the persecution of Tibetan monks represents one of the most tragic chapters in Beijing’s broader policy of forced assimilation toward its ethnic minorities.
Tibet has been a foundational member of UNPO since the organization’s establishment in 1991. Over the past decades, the Tibetan people have faced profound challenges in their pursuit of political and cultural rights, encountering systemic restrictions on religious practice, cultural expression, and political freedom under Chinese administration. In this difficult context, UNPO continues to work tirelessly to defend the rights of the Tibetan people, collaborating with various civil society organizations and representatives. Within UNPO’s membership, the Government of Tibet in Exile serves as the main organization officially representing the Tibetan cause at the General Assembly.
UNPO reaffirms its unwavering support for the Tibetan people’s right to justice, dignity, and self-determination. An immediate and thorough clarification of the circumstances surrounding his death is imperative, along with full accountability from all parties involved.
For further information, read the Central Tibetan Administration’s press release here.
