HRW urges probe into Tibetan lama’s suspicious death in Vietnam

Human Rights Watch has called on Vietnam to investigate the suspicious death of Tibetan Lama Humkar Dorje Rinpoche, who died on Mar 29 in Ho Chi Minh City. The 56-year-old lama had been missing since late 2024, amid a Chinese crackdown on Tibetan educators. His followers allege he was detained by Vietnamese police with Chinese involvement. His monastery, under state supervision, claimed he died of illness. HRW noted inconsistencies and urged Vietnam to follow international protocols by conducting an impartial probe and sharing autopsy results with his family. Rinpoche had long served under official sanction in Tibet's Golok region.