Pheu Thai Denies Illegal Flood Donation Accounts
The Pheu Thai Party has denied allegations from the Election Commission that it illegally opened bank accounts to receive monetary donations for flood victims, stating it only collected relief goods through a coordination center. The EC warned that three active accounts promoted on the party's Facebook page could violate political party and anti-corruption laws, potentially leading to dissolution. Pheu Thai clarified that the cited bank account was closed in 2019 and that it merely directed donors to an existing Bangkok Bank disaster fund unrelated to the party.
The Pheu Thai Party has clarified the controversy over opening donations for flood relief, firmly denying it opened any accounts to receive money. The party emphasized its coordination center only gathered supplies for disaster victims and did not accept cash donations under political party law.
On November 13, media reported that the Pheu Thai Party's Facebook page posted a statement at 3:00 PM addressing news from the Election Commission (EC). The EC reported that during past disaster relief periods, a political party announced on its Facebook page to help affected citizens but had not disclosed some donation amounts to the public nor informed relevant agencies about the donation drive. The EC found three bank accounts announced on the party's Facebook page were still active and could receive transfers normally, risking violations of Article 72 of the Organic Act on Political Parties, the Anti-Corruption Act, the Public Fraud Act, and money laundering laws — offenses that could lead to party dissolution.
The news also cited human rights lawyer Nares Nuannoot, who said if a party were dissolved for accepting flood relief donations, other parties doing the same would face similar consequences. Images showed donation appeals from multiple parties: Bhumjaithai collecting for border-area residents via a KBank account; Pheu Thai for flood victims via a Krung Sri Ayutthaya Bank account and a coordination center for goods; and the Democrat Party for flood victims via a Krung Thai Bank account.
In response, Pheu Thai clarified to prevent public misunderstanding that it had operated illegal donation channels under the Political Party Act, which is untrue. The party stated:
1. During the recent flood relief (October 2024), Pheu Thai did not open any donation accounts for victims and did not receive money into party accounts or any individual accounts within the party. The Krung Sri Ayutthaya Bank account shown in the news was closed on October 16, 2019. The party only publicized that those wishing to donate money could contribute to Bangkok Bank's "Disaster Recovery Fund," an existing bank-run account unrelated to Pheu Thai.
2. For the recent flood relief, Pheu Thai set up a coordination center to collect relief goods — food, drinks, and necessities — at its Vibhavadi Rangsit Road headquarters in Bangkok. The party acted as a collection point for donated goods and distributed them to victims in various areas. This was not accepting donations under political party law guidelines.
The party is fully aware that disaster relief is...
