Samsung Electronics on Wednesday rejected blame for ongoing confusion on talks over the deaths of workers from diseases possibly linked to working conditions at its semiconductor plants, claiming an about-face by victims’ families and their advocates.

“We are extremely puzzled by the reaction from the activist group that had given us the proposals (about the talks),” a high-level official from Samsung Group said, demanding that he remain anonymous.

The remark came a day after SHARP, an activist group whose members include the victims’ families, took issue with having a third party mediate the talks.

SHARP, together with Rep. Sim Sang-jung of the minor opposition Justice Party, last week had issued a joint statement demanding that the world’s top tech firm come to the negotiation table to discuss responsibility and compensation for the victims who are suffering or have died from leukemia and other illnesses. (Yonhap)