Members of various civic and public organizations including the permanent co-representative of the joint measure committee of civic and public organization to counter suppression of Pomminryon and the chairman of the emergency measure committee of Pomminryon to defend the June 15 joint declaration staged a demonstration in Seoul.

They accused the authorities of suppressing the above-said organizations and their core members, charging the legitimate activities of the South Headquarters of Pomminryon were "instructed by the north."

They branded the suppression as part of the moves to crack down upon the civilian pro-reunification movement, pursuant to the Lee Myung Bak "government's" policy of inciting confrontation with the DPRK.

Noting that all the people would unite closer braving the authorities' suppression and get the "National Security Law" repealed at any cost, they stressed that the Koreans' movement for reunification based on the three principles of national reunification -- independence, peaceful reunification and the great national unity -- will go on.

Similar protest demonstrations were staged by members of various organizations against the authorities' suppression of the reunification movement in Kyonggi Province, South Kangwon Province, South Chungchong Province and other areas on the same day.