Thailand Prepares For National Youth Day/children's Day

[Jai Dee]

Youth fair at Science and Technology Ministry is animated

The atmosphere in the Naitonal Children’s Day fair at the Ministry of Science and Technology is lively as children and their parents are flocking into the venue.

The Science and Technology Ministry has launched the “Science Roads” project, aimed to provide scientific and technological knowledge to children. The project is divided into 43 roads, including “Discovery Station”, Science Class Station”, and “Science Treasure Station”.

The ministry is also staging a show on the impacts of greenhouse effect. The show will allow children to help alleviate the situation. Children who would like to see the show can ask for the tickets at the information center of the ministry.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 13 January 2007

[Jai Dee]

Schoolchildren wave as they watch military equipment being moved into Bangkok’s Royal Plaza for display during Children’s Day today.

This year’s celebration comes amidst security concerns in the wake of the New Year’s Eve bombings in the capital.

Source: The Nation - 13 January 2007

[Jai Dee]

Words of wisdom from young people on Children's Day

The most sensible advice for all Thais inevitably comes from the demographic group that one would least expect.

"I want to see the senior people of the country have unity," said Krissada Chai-kayan, a boy from Wangwiset Secondary School, in the southern province of Trang.

Speaking during a ceremony held at Government House on Thursday to celebrate Children's Day, Krissada told the crowd, which included Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont: "The senior people should follow His Majesty the King's advice to live in harmony. From recent incidents, I feel that Thailand has changed a lot. As a youngster, I want to ask senior people to be unified."

Reading or watching other interviews held in relation to Children's Day, it is clear that Krissada's opinion is the rule, not the exception.

This sincere plea from a schoolboy reflects a common view among Thai youngsters who have had to grow up in an environment that their ancestors were fortunate enough not to have had to live through.

These kids are growing up amidst the fears and threats that have arisen from the conflicts of adults and the related violence, which has now spread across the nation.

Children in the past have had to live through several coups, but they didn't live their lives fearing that they might be the victims of an unfortunate incident. Terrorism was an unthinkable possibility for the children of previous generations but now it is a part of the environment in which children must live their daily lives.

The police may have yet to conclude their investigation into the New Year's Eve bombings, but Krissada assumes that the perpetrators are Thai. "As a Thai, I want to ask them how could they do that to their country's fellows," he asked in an emotional plea. During the same ceremony, Chalad Donnoang, another junior secondary-school student, from Ponsawan Pattana School in Nakhon Phanom, said, "The best gift to children on this National Children's Day is to bring back peace to the country. I don't want to see Thai soil filled with blood and divisions."

Chalad went on to say: "Although I am not from Bangkok nor the three southernmost provinces, I have been following the news all along. The perpetrators bomb schools and destroy our learning centres. I want to ask them to stop for the country, for His Majesty." Chalad's comment is tantamount to a youngster slapping his father or grandfather in the face for acting childishly.

Members of the older generation have acted without rationality, committed evil actions to rise to the top and have brought down their enemies for their own interests.

While some of these adults keep preaching to children about social mores, they act irrational. It's unfortunate that a series of incidents have occurred recently only because of a group of adults who could not resist the evil inherent in human nature, in spite of the years of learning.

These children however realise what really counts in their lives. They want to study in schools where their teachers won't be killed right before their eyes. They just want to enjoy a New Year's party without fearing deadly bombs.

Now it's up to their elders to show these children how to act with rationality in order to become a good adult.

With the country so divided these days, being a child in Thailand at this particular time is not easy, especially when it comes to learning real values - social or political. One adult may tell them one thing and another something totally different.

Kids are always confused by everything, and now is the most difficult time for them to learn in yet.

Don't underestimate a child's apprehension ability when they see tanks rolling down the street.

They may be thrilled to see the tanks, but deep down they have learned the effects of the power struggle among adults.

They have taught us what the ultimate goal of this nation should be - unity - even though they don't quite have an idea of how to achieve that.

It's time we started learning ways to follow this innocent advice.

- Editorial Opinion from The Nation - 13 January 2007

[Jai Dee]

Children's Day Celebration held at Government House amid tightened security

Parents take their kids to visit Government House as part of Children's Day celebration amid tightened security.

Officials allowed parents and children to enter Government House's compound through one gate on Phitsanulok Road. Parents have to pass through bomb scanners.

About 500 police officers were deployed to the compound.

All garbage bins have been removed from the compound and cleaning officials regularly collected garbage and took them away.

Phone jamming equipment were also installed inside the compound.

Source: The Nation - 13 January 2007