The resignation came after CDA chairman Noranit Settabutr held a closed door emergency meeting for more than an hour to resolve the crisis.

Before the forced resignation, eight out of the 12 members of the committee had already resigned, paralysing it and delaying the process of gauging the public's opinion in the drafting of the new constitution.

The alarm bell was rung by Chermsak Pinthong, chairman of the national committee, during the weekly meeting of the assembly yesterday morning.

Rumours had been spreading and even picked up by some news media alleging that Savet was trying to sell positions for subcommittee membership at the provincial level in the north-eastern provinces - a charge he vehemently denied before he was urged to quit. "Go and call your lawyers, then we can talk about it," Savet angrily told other assembly members before the decision to hold the emergency meeting between Noranit and north-east CDA members.

"Get rid of me if I've done wrong. If not I'll sue you," he said.

Savet then spoke about a number of unrelated issues to the assembly, mentioning Nepal, Lao soldiers, the war against communism and other matters.

"We have called on Savet to resign," said Sunthorn Chantarangsi, first deputy of the committee and the fourth person to resign from the controversial committee.

"We can't go on working and it's causing a lot of damage.

There have been allegations about bribery and although it's still unclear, it's not acceptable," said Sunthorn, who claimed Savet had also interfered in the selection of provincial subcommittee members under other committee members.

A CDA member who asked not to be named told The Nation the allegations about "appointments for money" had been widespread. He said many CDA members working with Savet had questioned his conduct but did not elaborate.

Some alleged Savet was hand picked by the Council for National Security (CNS) to join the assembly. "Even if he's a CNS man he still can't behave like this," the source said.

Chermsak told fellow CDA members after the resignation he had heard that some political parties want their canvassers to become provincial subcommittee members.

The assembly decided to name the new committee members yesterday and to select a new chairperson of the committee.

In a related development, Chermsak also warned the constitution drafting committee yesterday to listen to the voices of the people. Chermsak said while he was in the South to listen to people's views about what they wished to see included in the new constitution, he was confronted by a valid question.

"They told me that you people have already decided what to write, so why are you asking us?"

The group also asked Chermsak if what they expressed would really reach the charter drafters.

The assembly also debated whether to make the 1997 people's constitution the basis for the new constitution, but did not reach a conclusion.

Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation