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While youngsters attended recreational and educational activities and Army weapon displays to celebrate National Children's Day yesterday, a tragedy struck when a skydiver crashed into a crowd in Roi Et, killing a 7-year-old girl, during an Army demonstration.

Another tragedy occurred in Narathiwat's Joh I Rong district yesterday afternoon, where a pickup truck carrying children and parents home from a trip to a waterfall ran out of control and crashed into a roadside tree, killing seven children and two mothers and injuring 10 others.

The skydiving accident occurred at 10am at the Army's Sixth Infantry Division when the parachutist lost control of his landing due to strong winds. The skydiver suffered a broken leg when he crashed onto Orawee Sapsevi, killing her and slightly injuring several bystanders, including the girl's mother.

A similar accident occurred in a demonstration hosted by Nakhon Pathom's Royal Police Cadet Academy yesterday at 9am. Parachutist Police Sub-Lieutenant Suthat Mankid was also buffeted by strong winds, hit the ground and broke his leg.

The military theme for National Children's Day is quite a tradition, and yesterday was no exception. Tens of thousands of children and parents attended activities at army bases nationwide, among them Chiang Mai's Wing 41 and Kavila Army Camp, Nakhon Ratchasima's Wing 1 and Suranaree Army Camp, Songkhla's Navy Base and Lop Buri's Paholyothin Army Camp. Wide-eyed children were excited to touch weapons, have their pictures taken with big guns and sit in helicopters and tanks.

At Bangkok's Supachalasai Stadium, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva presided over the opening of National Children's Day celebrations at 9am, urging his listeners to be good learners inside and outside the classroom, to be alert to changes in society, to adopt the day's motto "think smart, think pure, inspire dreams and promote unity" and to show gratitude to their parents. He also called on adults to set a good example.

Parliament hosted an event for children on a Thai-culture preservation theme offering traditional sweets and outdoor games as well as a visit to the Parliament Museum.

Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai visited 13 children born yesterday in Nakhon Si Thammarat hospitals and told the parents that his office allocated Bt1.2 billion to take care of mothers and infants, including a Bt6-per-day fee for mothers-to-be to buy maternity supplement medicine for 270 days.

Urging parents to read to their offspring, the minister said his office would give copies of the cartoon version of "Maha Chanok" by HM the King as part of a Book Start package to each of 2,500 babies born yesterday nationwide to promote love of the monarch. He also called for donations to deliver the book to all 800,000 Thai newborns this year.

In related news, the Supreme Patriarch yesterday blessed children, emphasising that they were the country's future and their own future lay in the hands of today's adults, who should be a good example to them.