The statement referred to the fact that on the day the Seoul Central District Prosecutor's Office requested warrants of arrest for Ri Jong Hoe, co-executive chairman of the All-People Committee for Measures against the Murder of Evacuees in Ryongsan, and Nam Kyong Nam, chairman of the Evacuees' Association, on charges that they led the struggle for settlement of the Ryongsan tragedy.

The statement expressed resentment at this repressive action taken by the authorities after detaining Pak Rae Gun, co-executive chairman of the committee.

It is no more than a deception that the authorities had expressed "regret" through the "prime minister", the statement pointed out.

It is as good as an act of a thief crying "Stop the thief!" to incriminate those who have struggled for the settlement of the Ryongsan tragedy that resulted in grievous death of evacuees, it said, urging the authorities to stop the unreasonable suppression.