Authorities can nip speculation in the bud with timely responses

People enjoy a walk along the riverside footpath in Liuzhou, South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. [Photo by Deng Hua/Liuzhou Daily]

The body of Xiao Wensun, the mayor of Liuzhou in South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, was recovered from the local river earlier this month. The cause of his drowning is still unknown and is under investigation. However, the local government's tardiness in revealing information has given rise to a wave of online speculation. Comments:

It will take time to find out what really led to the mayor's death, but offering a timely response to the various rumors should not have been too difficult for the local government. The local authorities' belated and unprofessional responses are, of course, a result of their inability to provide timely information to the public in an emergency and incapability of dealing with the public's questions in the Internet era.

jschina.com.cn, Nov 9

The mayor's accidental death is no doubt a bombshell for the Liuzhou government. But it would have been much better had the local authorities kept updating the public on the progress of the investigation with regular news briefings. Unfortunately, there is still no clear sign of such a response, which has fueled people's imaginations and dealt a blow to the Liuzhou government's credibility.

Beijing News, Nov 9

Apart from disclosing information in a timely manner, the local authorities should also care more about the well-being of government employees, in a bid to make sure they do not commit suicide or die in an accident. Corrupt officials, in particular, should be informed that choosing to end their lives will not nullify their responsibilities. While those facing constant pressure in their work and those suffering from depression should be encouraged to either talk about their problems out or else be granted sick leave so they can receive medical treatment.

The Mirror, Nov 6

Like the Liuzhou government, almost all local authorities resort to silence or seek to distract the public's attention when unplanned events occur, in the hope of muddling through an emergency. However, this tactic has repeatedly proved to be a fool's errand or worse, as it fails to put a stop to the growing speculation. That explains why many netizens tend to believe and repost conspiracy theories and corruption-related rumors on the Internet.

ifeng.com, Nov 8