New Delhi — Tibetan activists from Students for a Free Tibet gathered outside the Vietnam Embassy in Delhi on April 14, 2025 and demanded accountability for the death of Tulku Hungkar Dorje, who reportedly died on March 29, 2025 in Vietnam, after being arrested by Vietnamese police and Chinese agents. They called for transparency, international investigation, and justice for Tulku Hungkar Dorje.
Hungkar Dorje Rinpoche disappeared in September, 2024, after Chinese authorities from the Qinghai Provincial Police Department interrogated him about his composition of a long-life prayer for His Holiness the Dalai Lama and accused him of failing to implement Chinese government education policies in his Golok schools. At the end of September 2024, he fled to Vietnam and lived there until March 25, 2025, under difficult circumstances. Sadly, Rinpoche died on March 29, 2025 in Vietnam, after being arrested by Vietnamese police and Chinese agents on March 25, 2025.
20 Tibetan activists from Students for a Free Tibet (SFT)-India, staged a peaceful protest outside the Vietnamese embassy in New Delhi, India, on April 14, 2025. They demanded justice for Hungkar Dorje Rinpoche, who reportedly died on March 29, 2025 in Vietnam, after being arrested by Vietnamese police and Chinese agents on March 25, 2025.
The Tibetan youths protested outside the embassy with a banner reading “Release the body! Reveal the truth! Justice for Tulku Hungkar Dorje” and they called on the Vietnamese government to respond to their demands: independent international investigation into Tulku Hungkar Dorje’s death; the immediate release of his remains to his family and monastic community; and accountability from both Vietnamese and Chinese authorities involved in his arrest and death.
They displayed photos of Tulku Hungkar Dorje, Tibetan flags and a body lying on the ground, representing Hungkar Rinpoche's death, at the site of the protest and chanted “Justice for Hungkar Dorje”, sending a clear message that XI Jinping has blood on his hand.
According to SFT, this protest is part of a wave of global demonstrations led by Tibetan exile communities and Tibet support groups, comes at the height of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Vietnam on April 14 and 15, 2025. The protesters fear the visit could further suppress any attempt at transparency and accountability in the case.
Speaking at the Delhi protest, Tenzin Passang, National Director at Students for a FreeTibet -India said, "We are here today to demand justice for Tulku Hungkar Dorje, a man who dedicated his life to protecting Tibetan culture. His death is not just a tragedy—it is an international crime. The Vietnamese government must be held accountable for allowing Chinese agents to operate on its soil and detain a Tibetan refugee. We will not be silent while our leaders are murdered in exile."
Sonam Tsewang, President at Students for a FreeTibet - Delhi, said, "This is not just about one life lost. It is about state-sponsored eradication of Tibetan identity and the long arm of Chinese repression reaching even into exile. As Xi Jinping arrives in Vietnam, China is a threat to peace in Asia.Vietnam must not trust China. We demand Tulku Hungkar Dorje’s body be returned. And we demand international accountability."
Dawa Lhamo, one of protesters said, "Vietnam must not become a tool of China’s crackdown on Tibetan freedom. Just like Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, who died in Chinese custody in 2015, Tulku Hungkar Dorje was a beloved community leader. His death must not be ignored or hidden behind diplomatic handshakes."
SFT says more protests are planned this weekend outside Vietnamese embassies in major cities around the world, to draw international attention to Chinese repression of Tibetans inside Tibet, and transnational repression of Tibetans in the free countries like Vietnam.
The Central Tibetan Administration, Tibetans in Tibet and in exile, Tibetan NGOs and Human Rights Watch called on the Vietnamese government to investigate the sudden and mysterious death of Hungkar Dorje Rinpoche, in Vietnam on March 29, 2025. They also demanded justice for Hungkar Dorje Rinpoche, and the return of his body, as well as allow make offering to him in his monastery.
