Demonstration to Commemorate 50th Anniversary of the Takeover of Eastern Turkestan

Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Takeover of Eastern Turkestan

Ms Yargui of the Inner Mongolian People's Party reads the joint statement while Students for a Free Tibet-UCF Chapter Director Megan Gainer looks on.

An account of the Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Takeover of Eastern Turkestan at the Florida Splendid China theme park.

October 10, 1999

As on many occasions before, the members of Citizens Against Communist Chinese Propaganda gathered in the Formosa Gardens Shopping Center parking lot to begin the joyful march to the main gate of the Florida Splendid China theme park and another protest demonstration.

Just before the noon hour, people from across the state of Florida and representing the Uyghur American Association, International Taklamakan Human Rights Association, Students for A Free Tibet-UCF Chapter, the International Tibet Independence Movement, TibetWestMichigan, Formosan Association for Public Affairs, World United Formosans for Independence, and the Inner Mongolian People's Party started the joyous procession down Formosa Gardens Boulevard.

Holding signs that read, 'One China-One Taiwan', 'Free Hadaa', 'Free the Panchen Lama', 'Genghis Khan was NOT Chinese', and the standard 'Free Tibet', 'Free Eastern Turkestan', and 'Free Inner Mongolia' as well as the flags of the Taiwan Independence Party, Inner Mongolian People's Party, Tibet and Eastern Turkestan stood at the main gate of the Chinese government owned and operated propaganda theme park known as Florida Splendid China for about an hour chanting slogans, waving to passing vehicles and turning back many in the small trickle of visitors to the park. One former employee of the park joined the demonstration and told us about the low morale among the staff and how some were having to find second jobs due to the lack of hours. Specifically mentioned were the restaurant employees, one would hope that the restaurants were being kept in better condition than the remainder of the park.

Wiring on the largest Chinese style gate in Florida

As noticed last December, the grounds maintenance of the park was beginning to look as though they had fired the grounds keeping staff, but on other subsequent visits this year, some attempt was made to clean up the park. This visit, early in October and very close to the start of the Florida tourist season, indicated that the park had again resumed cost cutting measures in the grounds keeping staff.

Back of exhibits in October 1999

Back of exhibits in December 1996

Again, the back of the exhibits at the main gate appear like jungles with weeds growing uncontrollably, making the park almost appear abandoned.

Weeds on back of exhibits at main gate of Florida Splendid China

The once-beautiful and perfectly manicured flower beds are dead, the small rose garden in front is an array of dead sticks and the wiring that lights the main gate at night is hanging off the largest Chinese style gate in Florida gate like seaweed on a wrecked ship. Another disturbing fact mentioned is that the miniatures around the exhibits are now being stolen due to poor security and the recognition by park visitors that the opportunity to obtain these special items is slowly disappearing.

Ms Yargui of the Inner Mongolian People's Party reads the joint statement while Students for a Free Tibet-UCF Chapter Director Megan Gainer looks on.

After the Joint Statement (see below) was read by Ms. Yargui of the Inner Mongolian People's Party to the cheers of the 35 or more people assembled, the demonstrators started the walk to the corner of US-192 and Formosa Gardens Blvd, to catch the passing cars just two miles from DisneyWorld.

The view down Irlo Bronson Highway (US192), two miles from DisneyWorld.

As always, there was a considerable response among the people in passing cars, with many people beeping their horns, waving and giving the demonstrators the thumbs-up sign. Thousands of cars per hour pass by this corner on a normal day and it was a joyful occasion to see so many in agreement with our principles, such as an independent Taiwan, Tibet, Eastern Turkestan and Inner Mongolia.

Another view down Irlo Bronson Highway (US192), two miles from DisneyWorld.

On motorist stopped and provided us further information about the park's operations. He mentioned that the last American manager had been fired and that the entire management of Florida Splendid China were now Chinese Nationals. He said that morale was very low among park employees and cost-cutting measures had sliced the staff to a mere skeleton. He further stated that it was his opinion that the park was headed for closing down before the end of the year.

Just could not resist...

Given the statements by persons stopping by to speak with the demonstrators and the overall condition of Florida Splendid China, it appears that the theme park is getting ready to bail out of it's committment to Central Florida. Will Florida Splendid China be vacant one morning, leaving employees and suppliers to wonder where there just compensation will come from ? What about Florida Splendid China's committment to maintain the exhibits, some sacred to millions of people, in the face of the looters who are changing the exhibits by stealing the miniatures or allowing Florida's vegetation to overwhelm and engulf the displays that are supposed to present China to the casual tourist and children from school-sponsored field trips? Will future visitors need to bring clippers and machetes to get a clear view of this China ?

The next demonstration will be held on the 18th of December 1999 to commemorate the 3rd anniversary of the jailing of Mr. Hadaa, a Inner Mongolian that dared to open an unsanctioned book-store and the sixth anniversary of the Grand Opening of Florida Splendid China. This will be the thirty-second demonstration to protest against the propaganda theme park known as Florida Splendid China.

Activities are also being planned for January, of course, only if the park is still open.

Joint Statement

At this commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the so-called peaceful liberation of Eastern Turkestan, we call on the Chinese authorities to:

Give the people of Eastern Turkestan true autonomy, not just in name. Likewise, extend these same rights to Inner Mongolia and Tibet.
End the suppression of the people of Eastern Turkestan, cease the crackdown on non-Chinese communist thought. Likewise, end the campaign of terrorism against the people of Tibet and Inner Mongolia.
Release the political prisoners being held in Chinese government jails and Reform Through Labor Camps for no other country would find it a crime.
End the use of torture as an element of State power.
End the mass immigration of ethnic Chinese people into Eastern Turkestan, Inner Mongolia and Tibet.
Recognize that the island of Taiwan has never been part of the People's Republic of China and deserves to stand alone as the independent Republic of Taiwan.

Signed:

Uyghur American Association
International Taklamakan Human Rights Association (ITHRA)
Citizens Against Communist Chinese Propaganda (CACCP)
Inner Mongolian People's Party
Taiwanese Association of Florida
Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA)
Students for A Free Tibet UCF Chapter
Netfriends of Tibet, Sweden
TIBETWestMichigan
World United Formosans for Independence (WUFI)
International Tibet Independence Movement

Jack Churchward
James Washburn
Riza Ilkin
Robert Smith
Kirk Johnson
Bernard Blanc