It also suppressed the Citizens' Solidarity for Democratic Society for sending to the United Nations Security Council a letter calling for impartial and objective discussions on the "results of the investigation" into the case of sunk warship of the puppet authorities after branding it as an "enemy-benefiting organization." It is, at the same time, resorting to a dastardly investigation into main figures of the former regime on absurd charges.

A spokesman for the National Reconciliation Council in a statement issued on Wednesday termed the above-said actions last-ditch efforts of the group of traitors to prevent the spirit of supporting the inter-Korean joint declaration from running high, stem the trend of the times toward national reconciliation and unity, stamp out the progressive forces including the reunification movement organizations in south Korea and get rid of the serious ruling crisis.

The statement went on:

It is natural for the fellow countrymen in the north and the south to meet and talk to each other and for the south Korean people to call for justice, democracy, independence and reunification. This does not pose any problem.

The frantic crackdown on the progressive democratic forces including the reunification movement organizations conducted by the puppet group would only fully reveal its ugly colors as a strangler of democracy and enemy of reunification.

The puppet group is sadly mistaken if it calculates it can prop up its dictatorial regime and quell the people's desire for national reconciliation and reunification through fascist suppression.

The Lee Myung Bak group should stop at once its suppression of the progressive democratic forces and guarantee them free activities.