The Bloc Quebecois demands investigation into Rights and ...

... Democracy crisis

MONTREAL — The Bloc Quebecois is wading into the debate surrounding the beleaguered Montreal-based Rights and Democracy.

The sovereigntist party is demanding an independent investigation into the crisis at organization, notably the sudden death of president Remy Beauregard.

Tensions began to mount in the organization last spring over decisions to cut funding to rights groups critical of Israeli policies toward Palestinians.

Beauregard died shortly after a tense meeting with the board of administration.

The Bloc is asking for the organization to be put under trusteeship and temporarily managed by a three-person 'council of elders.' It put forward a proposed list of people it feels would be impartial, including former prime minister Joe Clark and former NDP leader Ed Broadbent.

Bloc leader Gilles Duceppe said the organization must remain independent.

"For us it's not about partisanship," he told the Canadian Press Friday. "It's more about saying this organization has a role to play and we can't let Harper and his acolytes wreck all that work. And that's what's happening."

Duceppe accused the Conservatives of loading the board with Tory-friendly appointments who lacked expertise on international issues.

Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon has promised t address criticism that a government-funded rights agency is anti-Israeli.

Source: GOOGLE NEWS - Canadian Press (February 13,2010)