A spokesman for the party in a commentary that day recalled that a court sentenced the chairman to 5 years in prison on the charge of agitating an illegal rally.

The commentary termed this an impudent act of the security authorities to pass the buck for everything to him.

The rally was expected long ago but the police suppressed it after terming it "illegal," it noted, adding:

What a sinister purpose the police sought was clearly revealed through its violence that left peasant Paek Nam Gi falling into a faint.

The commentary demanded the punishment of those officials of the "government" who ordered the police to crack down upon the rally by violence and create mayhem, instead of punishing the chairman.