Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has confirmed Thaksin Shinawatra's name has not been included in the list of convicts eligible to benefit from the government's proposed royal pardon decree this year.
Ms Yingluck sister of ousted ex-premier Thaksin said the decree is in line with the cabinet resolution and that the government's position is for everything to follow the law and tradition and to be non-discriminatory.
When asked about a vow by Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung to bring Thaksin back to Thailand, Ms Yingluck admitted that was one of the Pheu Thai Party's campaign pledges.
However, she said all cases must proceed according to the law and for the best interests of the country and equality of all people, adding she will not give "special treatment" to anyone.
Justice Minister Pracha Promnok said the draft royal pardon decree for over 20,000 convicts on the occasion of His Majesty the King's 84th birthday on Dec 5 would follow convention.
The bans on people found guilty of drug offenses and corruption and convicts who absconded will remain intact in the decree, he said.
This applies to Thaksin as the Supreme Court sentenced him to two years in jail in 2008 for abusing his authority as premier to help his then-wife Potjaman na Pombejra buy a state-owned plot of land in the Ratchadaphisek area of Bangkok in 2003.
Atchaporn Jaruchinda, secretary-general of the Council of State, said the council had scrutinized the draft decree in line with the traditions and conventions and the bans in the decree are retained.
Mr Chalerm admitted Thaksin may not be able to return this year and added that other cases are still pending against him.
Therefore, it serves little purpose for the government to push for a royal pardon for Thaksin at this stage. He said he is waiting for the right time to push for the amnesty law.
He said he had to go ahead with a bid to bring Thaksin back home at some point, as he had made a promise to do so during election campaigns.
Meanwhile, a group called Siam Samakkhi, made up of Thaksin critics, will hold a signature collection campaign to impeach the cabinet at Lumpini Park on Friday.
Senator Somjate Boonthanom, who joined the group, called on the government to avoid any action that would absolve Thaksin of his punishment.
Thaksin is in South Korea touring a $19-billion river project which he believes could have averted Thailand's flood disaster, Korean officials said.
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