Florida Splendid China Demonstration to Commemorate 41st Anniversary of Tibetan Uprising Day
 Demonstrators with Tibetan National Flag and Potala Palace Exhibit |
| March 11, 2000 As on more than thirty occasions in the previous six years, Citizens Against Communist Chinese Propaganda held a protest demonstration on the 11th of March 2000 at the main gate of the Chinese government owned and operated propaganda theme park known as Florida Splendid China. This event commemorated the 41st anniversary of Tibetan Uprising Day. Gathered were members representing Students for a Free Tibet, International Taklamakan Human Rights Association and the Inner Mongolian People's Party holding flags and signs and calling for the end to the illegal occupation of Tibet, Eastern Turkestan and Inner Mongolia. Despite a brief rainshower that cooled off the abnormally high temperatures for March, the weather was much different than during the previous demonstration.
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 Demonstrators marching to main gate. |
 Demonstrators at main gate. |
| After pausing at the main gate, a large group of participants proceeded to the rear of the park along the sidewalk and demonstrated in front of the Potala Palace exhibit. |
 Demonstrators at main gate of Florida Splendid China |
 Demonstrators at Potala Palace exhbit |
Listening to His Holiness Dalai Lama's March Tenth Statement |
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The demonstrators were completely ignored by park employees, at most of the previous demonstrations at least the little golf cart would come out and wave, but not this time. We had even brought along a copy of "Hostage of Beijing: The Abduction of the Panchen Lama" to ask if they might read and comment about the world's youngest political prisoner On previous demonstrations, we were presented a book, "The Biographies of the Dalai Lamas" and returned the favor at the next demonstration by bringing a copy of "Exile In The Land of Snows." We were hoping to open dialogue again. |
| The front of the theme park was in good shape, but out of site from the main gate, we discovered that there were some sections where the groundskeepers were slacking off. |
The area behind the first gate from the corner stills looks like a dumping ground |
and the fence along the back wall looks ratty and unkept. |
Along the back of the exhibits looks like a haven for wild animals. |
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| To conclude the demonstration, Cameron Hawkins of Students for a Free Tibet (UCF Chapter) read the statement of His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet on the occasion of the 41st Anniversary of Tibetan Uprising Day to all those assembled. Afterward, Ablajan Layli-Namam, representing the International Taklamakan Human Rights Association also read a statement. |