Scholars want Henan to end destruction of mlns of graves (2)

Follow-up reports also said that some authorities threatened to dismiss some civic employees who balked at pushing forward the campaign. The campaign aroused Chinese Web users' attention, and a majority of them are against the campaign.

Yao Zhongqiu, a professor from Beihang University who initiated the appeal, told the Global Times that he regretted he did not speak out early to try and prevent local governments from destroying millions of tombs."We hope local governments will reconsider the policy of tomb-removal in rural areas. The tombs are symbols for Chinese respect for their ancestors," Yao said.

Wang Xiaoyu, a culture Professor from Tongji University, also told the Global Times that the tomb destruction campaign violates Chinese tradition. "If most people are not happy with a regulation, it shows there is something wrong with it."