The Head Lama of the Choegyal Monasteries in Gonjo County, Tibet, died in prison after years of torture and isolation.
The mountains we call home have long echoed with chants of compassion and wisdom. But today, they mourn. It has been sadly confirmed that on July 19, 2025, Tulku Palden Wangyal, the revered Head Lama of the Choegyal Monasteries in Gonjo (Ch. Gongjiue) County, Tibet, died in a Chinese prison after years of brutal torture and isolation. He was 53.
His death is not an isolated tragedy—it is a piercing reminder of the systematic repression that continues to suffocate Tibetan religious and cultural life under Chinese rule.
Tulku Palden Wangyal was more than a spiritual leader. He was a community pillar, guiding the monasteries of Botoed, Gardhab, Ngyagle, and Shungkor villages with wisdom and humility. He taught how to honor Tibetan identity, to protect culture, and to resolve internal conflicts with unity and compassion.
His influence was profound, and perhaps that was his “crime.” The Chinese authorities viewed his teachings and leadership as a threat. Around eight years ago, he was arrested without trial and imprisoned in Gonjo County. From there, he was transferred to Chamdo, Lhasa, and finally Gansu Province—each move marking a descent into more profound suffering.
Inside these prisons, Tulku Palden Wangyal endured relentless torture. The conditions were inhumane. He was denied contact with the outside world. Appeals for his release were ignored. Monks and laypeople alike were forbidden from visiting or even speaking his name aloud.
By the time he was moved to Gansu, his body had already been broken. Yet the torture continued. On July 19, he succumbed to the abuse. Tibetan administrative sources confirmed his death, though the Chinese authorities have offered no explanation.
This is not the first time a Tibetan religious figure has died under suspicious circumstances. In April 2025, it was reported that the abbot of Longen Monastery, Qinghai province, Hongger Dorje Rinpoche had died in Vietnam in suspicious circumstances.
These deaths are not accidents. They are the result of a deliberate campaign to erase Tibetan identity, suppress religious freedom, and dismantle Tibet’s cultural institutions.
The people of Gonjo County are devastated. Monasteries are draped in mourning. Prayers are heavy with sorrow. But we will not forget Tulku Palden Wangyal. His teachings live on in our hearts. His courage strengthens our resolve.
The world must hear this. The world must know that in Tibet, faith is punished, culture is criminalized, and silence is enforced with brutality.
Tulku Palden Wangyal is gone. But his voice—our voice—will not be silenced.
Source: Bitter Winter
