Three senior managers at a government-funded rights agency have been suspended with pay after declaring their lack of confidence in three Conservative appointees to their organization's board of directors.

The Canadian Press reported that the three managers at Montreal-based Rights & Democracy were suspended shortly before they submitted an open letter to media outlets last week expressing their concerns.

"In all cases, and especially in politically sensitive areas like the Middle East, [former president Rémy] Beauregard's senior public servant instincts dictated that every precaution be taken to ensure Rights & Democracy's work was beyond reproach," the letter read.

It's the latest twist in the troubles that have plagued the human rights organization in recent weeks, as infighting bubbled within its ranks.

Beauregard died of a heart attack in January, following a highly-charged meeting of his organization's board. He had been arguing with other board members about the direction Rights & Democracy was taking on Middle East policy and funding issues.

At the time of his death, Beauregard was also having a dispute about a performance review that had been sent to the government without his input.

During that January meeting, two members resigned to protest the recent nomination of two Conservative supporters to the board.

Jacques Gauthier, a Toronto lawyer, was appointed by the federal government to oversee the agency and he declared it "out of control."

The board members who resigned accused other board members and Gauthier of promoting a "narrow neo-conservative" agenda, and of harassing Beauregard.

The day of Beauregard's funeral, the agency's offices were broken into and computers were stolen.

Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon said he has asked a senior bureaucrat to review the situation at Rights & Democracy.

The Liberals have accused the government of trying to sabotage the organization from within.

New Democrat Party MP Paul Dewar has called for an investigation into the entire situation.

"We ask that the board itself cease and desist with all its activities until Parliament has a chance to look at this," Dewar said.

Rights & Democracy (also known as the International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development) is a non-partisan organization created by Parliament in 1988 to encourage and support the universal values of human rights and the promotion of democratic institutions and practices around the world, according to the agency's website.

With files from The Canadian Press