The drive to root out the unwanted legacy of the Thaksin regime appeared to hit a major snag yesterday when a severe conflict between key members of the committee set up to tackle the issue came to the fore.

The rift became apparent when Auditor-General Jaruvan Maintaka recommended to the Council for Democratic Reform (CDR) that most of the Assets Examination Committee members be replaced with former senators critical of the deposed prime minister.

Her move was described by panel chairman Sawat Chotephanich as personal as it had not been brought to the attention of the committee.

Jaruvan's proposal came as CDR chief General Sonthi Boonyaratglin told senior editors at a meeting that he was "having headaches" over certain appointments, particularly for the nine-member anti-graft agency.

She spent three hours discussing her plan with former senators Kraisak Chonhavan, Sak Khosangruang, Chirmsak Pinthong, Nirun Phitakwatchara, Winyu Ularnkul, Tuenjai Deetes and Seree Suwanpanont, a source said.

The ex-senators are known to be staunch detractors of Thaksin Shinawatra and his ousted government.

They agreed to ask the CDR to amend its 23rd announcement, which appointed the Assets Examination Committee's members and prescribed its authority.

Their proposal called for the dumping of panel members who used to work with the Thaksin government - such as the attorney-general and the secretary-general of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

While chairman Sawat and Jaruvan would remain, seven new members of the committee would be nominated, including Nam Yimyam and Wasan Soipisut.

Nam was the chairman of the committee that investigated Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai Party for the alleged hiring of small parties to contest the April 2 election, while Wasan was the head of the Supreme Court Labour Division and an Election Commission (EC) candidate.

The proposed new slate also has Sak and Nirun as well as former veteran envoy Asda Jayanama, current member and former secretary-general of the National Counter-Corruption Commission (NCCC) Klanarong Chantik, and former senator and EC candidate Kaewsun Atibodhi, the source said.

The proposal also called for upgrading the committee to the status of a division with its own office and staff, the source said.

Besides dubbing Jaruvan's push for a revamp as personal, Sawat said that although Meechai Ruchuphan - the CDR's chief legal adviser - had said changes could be made, the committee members had seen no need to make any adjustments to suit their individual requirements.

"I understand well what society wants and that everybody has a conscience. Nobody wants to be involved with bad things and the wrong side. When we do this job, we judge what is right and wrong. We have to be neutral. We can't use personal judgement," he said.

The panel chairman said he would not be vulnerable to any complaints, as he believes he is in the right and always pursues the committee's tasks as indicated in the CDR's 23rd announcement, which he carries with him all the time.

Sawat and Jaruvan on Thursday held a press conference to deny news reports of a rift between them. They said they just had different opinions about many aspects, including the panel's scope of work. Jaruvan said Meechai had told her changes could be made if the committee had any problems working.

Chirmsak said he was invited to join Jaruvan's meeting to figure out how to make the committee effective and to delineate duties and authority.

He said he preferred a strong examination committee to a compromising one.

"I don't care if people say we're biased if the committee is able to stamp out what is wrong in a fair manner," he said.

Sonthi admitted that the CDR had made a mistake in selecting certain people with doubtful backgrounds.

"After the appointments were announced, we got a lot of information about the [questionable] appointees," he said during a 45-minute gathering with 20 senior editors and media representatives at the Army Command, which also houses the CDR headquarters.

Sonthi said that due to the top brass's poor preparation for the September 19 coup, they hardly knew any details about some of the appointees.

The CDR consulted with its legal advisers and learned that it was too late to remove the dubious appointees, he said, adding that a way out was being sought, such as adding more committee members.

Sonthi said certain appointees to the NCCC had compromised records, as had been criticised. They also refused to leave voluntarily, he said.

Critics have pointed out that some NCCC members appointed by the CDR last Friday were close to ousted PM Thaksin.

Sonthi said the interim prime minister appointed by the CDR would be "a familiar face whom you are willing to respect". The new government will be responsible for setting up a national legislative assembly, he said.

The CDR will address concerns about rights and freedoms following the coup, he added.

Sathien Viriyapanpongsa,

Nerisa Nerykhiew,

Wattana Khamchu

The Nation