China Detains, Tortures Monk at Tulku Hungkar’s Memorial in Occupied Tibet
By Tenzin Chokyi
DHARAMSALA, 30 March: Chinese authorities have arbitrarily detained and tortured a Tibetan monk during the first-anniversary memorial ceremony for Hungkar Dorje Rinpoche at Lung Ngon Monastery in Gade County, Golok, Amdo — a Tibetan Tulku whose death under mysterious circumstances last year continues to alarm communities worldwide, according to a report by Tibet Times.
The prayer gathering, held from 27 to 30 March, reportedly drew heightened attention from Chinese authorities, who surrounded the monastery with police and military personnel. Movement, communication, and the activities of local Tibetans were tightly restricted throughout the event.
On the first day of the ceremony, a monk identified as Ugyen Jangchub was detained without explanation and taken to a local police station, where he was allegedly beaten. He was released later that night but was ordered to report to the local detention centre after three days. Due to ongoing restrictions, further details about his condition remain unclear.
According to the report, authorities also forcibly removed English-language signboards and written displays related to the memorial from the monastery premises. Monks and residents were reportedly prohibited from sharing photos, videos, or information about the event, both online and offline.
One local Tibetan source described the atmosphere as tense and fearful, stating that the situation has left people feeling “more afraid of living than dying.”
Additional reports indicate that the detained monk’s residence was searched, his personal belongings damaged, and his electronic devices confiscated. Authorities allegedly discovered an image of the Dalai Lama during the search. He is believed to face at least a month of detention, though the exact duration remains uncertain.
The memorial ceremony marks one year since the death of Hungkar Dorje Rinpoche, whose passing continues to raise serious concern among Tibetans. Chinese authorities have stated that Rinpoche died in March 2025 at a hospital in Vietnam, while other reports suggest he had been in hiding in the country before his death. The circumstances—including reports of a joint operation by Chinese and Vietnamese police, his detention, and a subsequent secret cremation—remain unexplained, fuelling widespread concern within Tibetan communities both inside and outside occupied Tibet.
Rinpoche was reportedly subjected to official scrutiny after declining to host an elaborate reception for the China-appointed Panchen Lama during the Panchen Lama’s 2024 visit to Golok. His prominence as a spiritual leader, together with his humanitarian work—including establishing vocational training programs, medical clinics, and schools that offered free education to Tibetans in rural areas, and advocating for the preservation of Tibetan culture and language—is believed to have contributed to official pressure.
The Tibetan exile community continues to demand transparency and accountability from both China and Vietnam regarding the detention, disappearance, and disputed death of Tulku Hungkar Dorje, condemning the case as a stark example of China’s alleged transnational repression.
