Letter to Manager in Charge
11/15/2000
Manager in Charge
3000 Splendid China Blvd.
Kissimmee, Florida 34747
Dear sir/madam,
We are writing again to ask that you take the opportunity to speak
with us concerning the Tibetan, Mongolian, and Eastern Turkestani
exhibits. These represent five out of the sixty or so in your
facility.
The Tibetan exhibit, the Potala Palace, is not labeled properly. It
does not mention the pivotal role of this structure in the secular
and religious life of the Tibetan people or mention that this
structure, built by the 5th Dalai Lama in the 17th century, served as
his residence since that time. Would it be possible to start
negotiations to get the same inscription that is used as part of the
United Nations World Heritage list ? The following is a quote:
"The Potala Palace, an administrative, religious and political
complex, is built on the Red Mountain in the centre of the Lhasa
valley, at an altitude of 3700 metres. The complex comprises the
White Palace and the Red Palace, with their ancillary buildings. The
Potala, winter palace of the Dalai Lama since the 7th century A.D.,
symbolises Tibetan Buddhism and its central role in the traditional
administration in Tibet. The beauty and originality of its
architecture, its ornate decoration and its harmonious integration in
a striking landscape add to its historic and religious interest."
The Mongolian exhibit called the Mongolian Yurt should be removed.
The traditional lifestyle and culture of the nomadic Mongol nation is
not Chinese and the efforts of the Chinese government to eradicate
this lifestyle are well known. In addition, the transfer of Chinese
people into the once sovereign Mongol lands has destroyed the
grasslands on which the Mongol lifestyle depends, as well as making
Mongols a minority in their own country.
The Mongolian exhibit called the 'Mausoleum of Genghis Khan' should
also be removed. The exhibit implies that the Great Khan was Chinese
and buried in a Chinese-style tomb. The fact is that the structure
shown in the park was actually built by the Communist Chinese
government in the 1950s to house the once-mobile shrines to the
memory of Genghis Khan. At the same time, the rites that had been
held for centuries to his memory were outlawed and other strict
measures imposed to deprive the Mongolian people of the opportunity
to observe their cultural traditions. During the Cultural Revolution,
the artifacts that had been saved were destroyed by the Red Guard and
the structure used for storing salt. Genghis Khan's memory is not
well served by this exhibit and is insulting to Mongolian people and
the truth.
The Uyghur exhibit known as the Id Gah Mosque should be removed. The
religious school that existed in this structure was closed by the
Chinese government and now all religious observances are under the
control of the Chinese Communist Party, avowed atheists. The Id Gah
is not Chinese and does not belong in the Florida Splendid China
theme park.
The exhibit named in the park as 'Tomb of Xiang Fei' should be
removed or the proper name attached to it with the correct
information. The Uyghur people that built this structure call it the
'Tomb of Apak Hizrat Khoja.' Although the Uyghur Heroine Ipar Han is
buried there, the fact is that she committed suicide rather than
become a 'fragrant concubine' or 'xiang fei.' This is a gross
distortion of history that attempts to eliminate the memory of the
deeds of a great Uyghur woman. In addition, anyone familiar with the
history of the Great 5th Dalai Lama knows who Apak Hizrat Khoja is,
as they had met and formed an alliance between Uighurstan and Tibet
many centuries ago.
Please take the opportunity to contact us at your convenience
concerning this important matter.
We will be gathering at the main gate of Florida Splendid China at
noon on the 16th of December 2000 to commemorate the 7th anniversary
of the opening of Splendid China unless we hear from you on this
important matter. Also note that the next demonstration will be held
to commemorate Tibetan Uprising Day near March 10, 2001 and many more
are planned throughout the coming year.
Sincerely,
Jack Churchward
Florida-Coordinator
Citizens Against Communist Chinese Propaganda