Amnesty Demands Answers on Missing Tibetan Leader in China

Amnesty International has urged Chinese authorities to provide information on the missing Tibetan leader Choktrul Dorje Ten Rinpoche, reportedly detained since December 2025. Concerns over his welfare and the wider suppression of Tibetan figures grow, demanding transparency and immediate action.

Amnesty International has issued a critical appeal to Chinese authorities, demanding answers regarding the disappearance of Tibetan spiritual leader Choktrul Dorje Ten Rinpoche. Reports indicate that he has been missing since his detention in December 2025, according to the Tibetan news outlet Phayul.

Amnesty's appeal, addressed to Qinghai Communist Party Secretary Wu Xiaojun, criticized the lack of transparency in this case. Choktrul Dorje Ten Rinpoche, notable for his contributions to religious and vocational education, was allegedly detained around December 4 in Chikdril County, within the Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. Since then, Chinese officials have not disclosed his legal status, location, or any charges against him.

Amnesty also highlighted informal claims from January, suggesting the leader was 'under investigation,' yet no formal statements have been issued. Holding individuals incommunicado goes against international human rights standards and heightens the risk of mistreatment, the organization argued. Additionally, Amnesty raised concerns over attempts by local officials to stifle information sharing, describing it as part of a broader suppressive narrative in China.

The detained religious leader is prominent in Tibet for founding a monastery and a vocational training center, crucial to local communities. His disappearance fuels fears of increasing restrictions on Tibetan religious figures, as reported by Phayul.

Amnesty has pressed Chinese officials to reveal Choktrul Dorje Ten Rinpoche's location and either free him or put forward credible proof of criminal activity. The organization also called for his access to legal representation and family contact. This case has sparked global concern, with rights groups viewing it as further evidence of Tibet's enduring repression, highlighted by Phayul.