Tibet Groups Condemn Cremation of Deceased Tibetan Lama in Vietnam Without Family Consent Following his Death in Custody; Demand International Investigation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Body Reportedly Cremated Before Inquiry Fueling Suspicions of Chinese Involvement in Arrest and Death of Tulku Hungkar Dorje Rinpoche
21 April 2025 – Global Tibet groups voice vehement condemnation following reports of the cremation of Tulku Hungkar Dorje Rinpoche, a highly revered Tibetan leader, without family consent. Rinpoche is reported to have died in custody in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, in late March, under suspicious circumstances that demand immediate scrutiny. Disturbing information indicates that Rinpoches’s remains were cremated in Vietnam on 20 April at 1am. Rinpoches’ detention, his untimely death in custody and the subsequent unauthorised cremation constitute grave violations of international legal standards and can be seen to represent a deliberate obstruction of justice, raising serious questions regarding China’s involvement in his apprehension and death.
Tibet Groups reiterate their urgent demand for a full and transparent international investigation into the circumstances surrounding Tulku Hungkar Dorje Rinpoche’s death.
Lhadon Tethong, Tibet Action Institute, said: “Tulku Hungkar Dorje was targeted by the Chinese government simply for being a beloved Buddhist leader and advocate for Tibetan language and culture. His death is part of a pattern of unrelenting attacks on religious leaders, monasteries, and schools across Tibet, and a particular assault on his region of Golog, long known for its strong Tibetan identity and resistance to Chinese rule. With this cremation, Chinese authorities appear to be trying to hide the circumstances of his death. The world must call for an independent investigation.”
Dr Zoe Bedford, Australia Tibet Council, said: “This deeply disrespectful act strongly suggests an attempt to eliminate crucial evidence and prevent the truth from emerging. We fear a coordinated effort to cover up the circumstances of his arrest and death, potentially involving Chinese authorities. Tulku Hungkar Dorje’s body was secretly transferred late at night to Sakya Vietnam temple under heavy Chinese and Vietnamese security— the monks present having their phones confiscated, and no family allowed. Any claimed consent is clearly under duress. This is not a sacred rite—it’s a forced cremation that looks like an attempt to destroy evidence and erase the truth. The world must call this what it is: a potential cover-up of what could be a state-sanctioned killing.”
Ju Tenkyong, Amnye Machen Institute said: “In the future, the five monks who came to Vietnam to retrieve Rinpoche’s body will face extreme danger to their safety. Even now, Lung Ngon Monastery is facing immense difficulties, and forwarding and disseminating photos and information about Rinpoche is strictly forbidden. The monastery has been threatened with shutdown if it violates orders from the Chinese government. The reason behind the huge secrecy with which Rinpoche’s cremation has been conducted is, not only because the Chinese government murdered Rinpoche under an evil strategy, but it is now also absolutely clear that it is an attempt to conceal any evidence that was on Rinpoche’s body.”
Tenzin Yangzom, International Tibet Network said: “This is a calculated act of erasure. The Chinese government, with the complicity of Vietnamese authorities, has secretly cremated a Tibetan leader—denying his family, his community, and the Tibetan people any form of justice or closure. This isn’t just disrespect—it’s a deliberate attempt to hide the truth. Under surveillance, intimidation, and without consent, this forced cremation reeks of a cover-up. The world must hold both China and Vietnam accountable—this cannot be allowed to disappear in silence.”
Tenzin Rabga, Free Tibet, added: “The cremation of Tulku Hungkar Rinpoche without his family’s agreement is a shocking and deliberate act of erasure. It not only defiles Tibetan tradition but destroys any chance for a fair investigation into his deeply suspicious death. This is not just a spiritual loss—it’s a clear attempt to cover up the truth. We demand an independent, international investigation. Justice must not be denied.”
Topjor Tsultrim, Students For a Free Tibet said: “In one of Tulku Hungkar Dorje’s last public teachings before his death, he spoke about how the Tibetan language is the lifeline of the Tibetan race and how every family should endeavor to preserve it. His death and clandestine cremation proves that promoting the Tibetan language is a capital offense to the Chinese government that will be prosecuted in any jurisdiction without regard for state sovereignty or international human rights law. Teaching Tibetan is now a crime punishable by death.”
Gloria Montgomery, Tibet Justice Center said: “If the governments of China and Vietnam had no part in what happened to Tulku Hungkar Dorje, they have everything to gain from a transparent and credible UN investigation. But the decision to cremate his body without his family’s consent has only deepened the global suspicion surrounding the case. The world is watching, and without transparency, both governments risk being permanently stained by one of the most alarming cases of suspected extra-judicial killing and cross-border repression in recent memory. The UN must speak out clearly and urgently to ensure his body is returned to his family, and both China and Vietnam must cooperate fully with an investigation to ensure the truth comes to light.”
Tulku Hungkar Dorje, 56, had reportedly escaped into exile in Vietnam after facing relentless persecution from Chinese authorities in Tibet for his unwavering commitment to preserving Tibetan language and cultural identity. Shockingly, credible sources indicate his arrest in Ho Chi Minh City on 25 March in an operation allegedly involving both Vietnamese police and Chinese agents. He died just days later while reportedly in custody. The Vietnamese authorities’ unsubstantiated claim of a heart attack, the denial of family access to his body, and the complete absence of official documentation point to a deliberate cover-up. [1]
This development coincides with deeply troubling reports of an escalated crackdown and intensified security measures in the local area of his monastery in Golog, Tibet, further fueling global concern and demands for immediate international intervention.[2] Tibet Groups are also deeply concerned for the wellbeing of the monks in Golog, where eyewitness accounts detail an immediate and intense crackdown at his monastery — surveillance has spiked, movement is heavily restricted, and monks and laypeople face ongoing intimidation.
Tibetans and Tibet groups are calling for a full and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Tulku Hungkar Dorje Rinpoche’s death and for his remains to be returned to his family.
Foreign governments are being called on to press the Vietnamese and Chinese governments for answers, and to condemn the escalated crackdown and intensified security measures at Tulku Hungkar Dorje Rinpoche’s monastery in Tibet.
The United Nations is also being urged to investigate the possible extra-judicial execution of Tulku Hungkar Dorje Rinpoche, to identify everyone responsible for ordering, planning, and executing any operations connected with the circumstances surrounding Tulku Hungkar Dorje Rinpoche’s death.
Media Contacts:
India: Lobsang Yangtso, International Tibet Network, +91 882 650 7768 [email protected]
UK: Tenzin Rabga, Free Tibet, +44 747 000 7412 [email protected]
USA: Topjor Tsultrim, Students for a Free Tibet, +1 (610) 745-1022 [email protected]
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- Human Rights Watch, ‘China/Vietnam: Suspicious Death of Tibetan High Lama’: https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/04/09/china/vietnam-suspicious-death-tibetan-high-lama
- https://www.rfa.org/english/tibet/2025/04/15/tibet-buddhist-leader/
- https://tibetnetwork.org/joint-statement-on-the-unexplained-death-of-tibetan-abbot/