Tibetan Village Leader Dies in Chinese Custody in Tibet

Gonpo Namgyal, a Tibetan village chief advocating for language preservation, died three days after his release from Chinese custody on December 15, according to Radio Free Asia. His body bore signs of torture and electrical burns, suggesting severe abuse during his seven-month detention in Qinghai province's Golok Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. Namgyal and over 20 others, including revered monk Khenpo Tenpa Dhargye, were arrested in May for promoting Tibetan language and culture. Activists warn China’s intensified efforts to enforce Mandarin threaten Tibetan cultural identity. Namgyal’s death underscores escalating tensions over linguistic suppression and human rights concerns in the region.