The statement recalled that those who expropriated subsidies for rice cultivators without doing farm work have numbered 170,000-280,000 till now and among them are more than 100 high-ranking officials including the former vice-minister of Health, Welfare and Families, in particular.

It was due to their wrongs that more than 70,000 peasants who are truly engaged in the farm work have not received those subsidies, it charged, and went on:

High-ranking officials' expropriation of the above-said subsidies is little short of theft.

The Lee Myung Bak regime is shutting its eyes and keeping mum about its high-ranking officials tainted with irregularities and corruption and illegal practices, while indiscriminately suppressing the people who turned out with candles in protest against the import of American beef under the pretext of "enforcing legal order."

The Lee "government" should bear in mind that it will only face a stern punishment not only by the peasants but other people in case it covers up the case in a bid to evade people's criticism and patronizes the "Cabinet of rich land owners" again.