Tibetan Buddhist leader confirmed dead after eight months of disappearance

Chinese authorities have confirmed the death of Tulku Hungkar Dorje, a prominent Tibetan Buddhist leader who vanished in July 2024 after publicly advocating for Tibetan culture and language, reported Radio Free Asia. Dorje, aged 56, served as the 10th abbot of Lung Ngon Monastery in Qinghai’s Golog region and was widely respected for his philanthropic work and educational initiatives. Sources said monks were forced to sign documents confirming his death, but officials did not reveal the cause or location. Most of his schools, promoting Tibetan heritage, were reportedly shut following his disappearance. Tibetans mourned his loss online.