Tibetans in exile gathered in Dharamshala on Friday to hold a candlelight vigil mourning the suspicious death of Tibetan religious leader Tulku Hungkar Dorje Rinpoche, who reportedly died in Vietnamese custody under unclear circumstances.
The vigil, held near the Tsuglagkhang Complex, was organized by four Tibetan NGOs including Students for a Free Tibet and the International Tibet Network, with activists calling for an independent investigation and demanding the release of the deceased leader’s body to his family.
Lobsang Yangtso, an activist with the International Tibet Network, told ANI, “We believe that Rinpoche died under suspicious circumstances involving Chinese pressure and cross-border influence. With this vigil, we urge the Vietnamese government to ensure a transparent investigation.”
Nawang Chodon, programme coordinator of Students for a Free Tibet, highlighted Tulku Hungkar Dorje’s legacy, saying, “He was not only a respected spiritual figure but also an educationist and cultural preservationist committed to strengthening Tibetan identity.”
Tulku Hungkar Dorje was arrested on March 25 at his residence in Saigon, Vietnam, in what reports describe as a joint operation between Vietnamese police and Chinese agents. He was transferred to a public security office on March 28 and died the following day, March 29. The incident has triggered widespread outrage within the Tibetan exile community and raised concerns over transnational repression, extrajudicial practices, and human rights violations.
Chodon added, “We don’t have the full facts yet. That’s why we’re urging the Vietnamese authorities to conduct an impartial and transparent investigation into the circumstances leading to his death.”
The vigil concluded with Tibetan activists and monks chanting prayers, holding placards demanding justice, and lighting candles in tribute to Tulku Hungkar Dorje Rinpoche, a man they say was “silenced for his faith and advocacy.”