Tiananmen rumors go into overdrive

Tiananmen rumors go into overdrive
Mary Ma
Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Yesterday’s incident at Beijing’s Tiananmen Square was disturbing. A sports-utility vehicle plowed into a crowd before crashing and bursting into flames – killing five people and injuring 38 others. The question of whether it was a traffic accident or a suicide attack is uppermost on most people’s minds. There was a similar incident more than 30 years ago, when a taxi driver also plowed into a Tiananmen Square crowd, resulting in five deaths. In the past, official media usually refrained from reporting on such sensitive incidents. But this time around, they did so quickly.That’s certainly an improvement, although cynics will point out they had no choice because it was a very public area, with photos of the burning SUV starting to circulate on the internet soon after.

Nonetheless, the state media deserves praise for its urgency. The reports at least provided some basic facts – including casualty figures and how the incident happened.

Unfortunately, there was still a thick veil of secrecy, with state censors intensifying screening of comments on the internet, and photos and messages were quickly removed from blogs and discussion forums.

But the censorship should come as no surprise. Tiananmen Square is traditionally a sensitive place in mainland politics – given the nickname of being the country’s “Special Political Zone.”

In 1989, it was the place where the student movement started and ended. People from other provinces have also protested there over the years in search of justice.

Furthermore, the timing couldn’t be more sensitive – the latest incident taking place just as the Communist Party is about to convene its plenum, with the leadership expected to announce a range of unprecedented policy changes.

Rumors, when unchallenged, tend to snowball into bigger rumors.

According to witness accounts quoted in blogs before they were deleted, the crash was deliberate. A netizen claimed the SUV sped past her and rammed directly into a crowd.

Another said the vehicle accelerated rather than slowing down after mowing down the pedestrians before it exploded in a fireball.

Others claimed they heard multiple explosions.

Theories abounded as attempts were made to explain the case. There was speculation it could have been a protest by people unable to get the authorities to listen to their complaints.

Some suggested the SUV might have been hijacked and the two passengers killed were innocent.

Further speculation suggested it may be a terrorist attack by separatists ahead of the party plenum. But this theory lacks credibility in the absence of any groups claiming responsibility.

In a terrorist attack, those responsible are usually quick to claim credit. A high degree of openness is always the best weapon against the rumor mill. Beijing needs to disclose more information about the case.