Ex-PM reunited with an 'old friend'
A vintage Jeep given to Democrat Party chief adviser and former leader Chuan Leekpai by military officers is parked inside the party compound on Setsiri Road.
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Former prime minister Chuan leekpai received a surprise New Year gift yesterday when several retired military officials presented him with a fully restored 60-year old jeep that he used in his first election campaign.
The officers, who served at the PM's Office during Chuan's second term as premier, visited the Democrat Party headquarters to wish him a happy new year and give him the jeep. The Democrats' senior adviser looked delighted when he saw the jeep parked in front of the party headquarters. He walked around to examine it and asked the officers about the repairs done. He then checked the engine before taking a short test drive. Chuan said the jeep, which he has owned since 1969, was like an old friend. He always used the jeep to campaign because its was strongly built and he could drive it anywhere, he said. "The jeep is a Ford I bought for Bt12,500 at that time. However, it was damaged by long use. Later I stopped using it in my work," he said with a smile. He said the jeep was never used in Bangkok because its speed was only 60 kilometres per hour. He plans to drive the jeep to Trang, his hometown, over two or three days after the New Year. The Nation
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