An alleged attempt by the Thai government to bring back ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra from exile in the United Arab Emirates through a royal amnesty has been exposed disgusting the opposition and raising the spectre of another political crisis.

Democrat chief whip Jurin Laksanavisit called on Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, Thaksin's younger sister, to explain to the House of Representative Thursday a cabinet resolution endorsing to revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej a proposed amnesty that will also pardon convicted criminals over 60 and serving sentences of three years or less. The move comes just barely three weeks before King Bhumibol Adulyadej's birthday celebration, when authorities also release prisoners.

After the military ousted him from power in 2006, Thaksin was convicted of corruption charges and sentenced to two years imprisonment in 2008. At the time the sentence was issued by the Thailand Supreme Court, Thaksin was attending the Beijing Olympics and he never returned avoiding imprisonment.

Laksanavisit claimed that the royal amnesty is designed to benefit Thaksin for eliminating two criteria for convicts to be eligible for pardon: they must be serving their sentence and they must not be convicted of drug or corruption charges, according to Bangkok Post.

Laksanavisit warned that such amnesty will allow those convicted of corruption to seek royal pardon.

Opposition Leader and former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Democrat leader, vowed to oppose the draft amnesty.

Media mogul Sondhi Limthongkul, who organized a massive protest in 2006 that led to a coup ousting Thaksin, condemned the government for approving the draft royal decree. He said leaders of his anti-Thaksin People's Alliance for Democracy will meet next week to decide on their action.