Doubts linger over Red Cross watchdog (2)

The whistle-blower said the committee works more like a public relations department of the RCSC, and insisted that the members who have close relations with the RCSC should quit in accordance with the new rule.

According to Zhou, Grandall Law Firm, where Huang worked as a partner, was once a legal counselor of the RCSC.

Huang told the Global Times that his law firm used to provide legal advice for some branch organizations of the RCSC, but now doesn't do business with the RCSC, and he has never worked for it.

Chi Fulin, chair of the committee, told the Global Times Friday that the supervisors understood that the public's scrutiny over the panel was a result of their mistrust toward the RCSC, which suffered a lot after Guo Meimei, a young woman who claimed to be head of an organization with RCSC links, posted photos online flaunting her wealth in mid-2011.

"We helped the RCSC clear some issues, so some of the dissatisfaction toward it has shifted to us," Chi said, adding some of the members once wanted to leave the panel due to the pressure.

Instead, Chi said the panel finally decided not to skirt any problems and will play a role as a "bridge" between the public and the RCSC.

As for the reinvestigation of the controversy surrounding Guo Meimei, Jin Jinping, a committee member, said some members did raise the proposal. However, the committee has no legal power to open such investigations or summon any of those concerned as a witness.

"So during the vote, we believe that the committee should advise the RCSC to coordinate with authorities to probe the incident when new evidence is available," Jin said.

The issue of Guo triggered concern over how donations are used by the country's State-run charitable organizations, and led to a serious reduction in donations to the charity.