Maoists slam Christianity after statue demolition

China’s Maoists have protested the alleged demolition of a Mao Zedong statue in a central Chinese county, while accusing the local government of turning a blind eye to the rapid development of Christianity.

“Tearing down Chairman Mao’s statue is infuriating,” said pensioner Song Ying, an active member of the Mao Zedong Thought promotion team in Zhengzhou, capital city of Henan Province.

“Mao is the great leader and the No.1 hero of national rejuvenation,” said Song.

About 10 members gathered with banners and loudspeakers in the city center on Saturday, attracting more than 1,000 residents, she said.

Saturday was the third of such gathering following January 13 and 14. A fourth planned gathering was cancelled on Sunday, Song said.

The statue’s reported demolition in the Henan county of Luoning in December has provoked protests in other places, she said.

“Many Mao supporters around China are conducting such activities such as in Shanxi, Shandong and Jiangxi provinces,” Song said.

Mao supporters have been “phoning and texting government and top officials in Luoning,” but barely received any replies, Xia Guozan, a resident of the Hubei Province city of Jinzhou, told the Global Times.

Sina Weibo user Meiyuan Knight first reported the incident on January 7, posting that about 20 people from government departments tore down a statue in Luoning after it was set up in a village estate by its owner, according to print screen pictures forwarded online.

Meiyuan Knight’s posts had all disappeared by Monday.

The publicity departments of Luoning county and its administer Luoyang city could not be contacted as of press time.

Meanwhile online, Mao supporters blamed Christianity, alleging that Luoning county has 500,000 residents and 63 Christian churches.

In a 1999 notice, the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the State Council stressed construction of memorial facilities to deceased comrades should be under strict control.

“If building is necessary, construction should be approved by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council,” the notice reads.

“Without approval, no region is allowed to build,” it added.

In January 2016, a 36-meter golden Mao statue was demolished while under construction in Hunan as it had not been properly registered or approved, People’s Daily Online reported.