Small groups of soldiers newly all in camouflage, Black Berets and shiny boots dress responded to orders for drill instructors as they jumped on ditches, climbed rope ladders and rose from 3 m high walls in red earthdusty below.
The majority were women to work in administrative roles, but they still needed to control the jungle assault course.
Among them was Kanitta Chansantor, striving to make the proud of her husband. But he is not alive to see to do.
May 19, 2010, Sgt Anusit Chansantor, was part of the operation to disperse demonstrators hostile to the Government of the streets of Bangkok.
The soldiers met resistance from armed in protest camp elements. Sgt Anusit was struck by a grenade and killed.
The demonstrators, known as the red shirts, had occupied in the neighbourhoods of the capital for more than two months, trying to force the Government to resign.
At the time when these manifestations were more, more than 90 people lost their lives - soldiers, the demonstrators, journalists and health professionals.
Sitting on the grass, the assault with conquered success course, Kanitta told me her husband died a hero.
But his young son is still traumatized by what has happened and is concerned that, now her mother has joined the army, he could lose his too.
"He called me every day just to check that I have not been shot," explained Kanitta.
What of the person who fired the grenade which killed Anusit? I wonder. They should not be brought to justice?
"When it arrived at the outset that I wanted to know who did and why," Kanitta told me.
"But now, it is not so important." My husband died on the battlefield to do his duty. He loved the army. Now I have taken its place. ?
SacrificeA year earlier, the army moves to crush resistance in the red shirt, people seek desperately a safe place to shelter.
Phayao says that his daughter, a volunteer nurse of 25 years, sacrificed herself to help othersHundreds head to the Buddhist Temple Wat Pathum, in the heart of the camp of the demonstrators.
But sacred ground proved to be no guarantee of the sanctuary. The were temple of fire. six bodies were found the next day.
The facts that the shooting was and why are disputed.
There are soldiers stationed on the high slopes of Bangkok's Skytrain system. The army said that it y activists in the region. Witnesses in the temple are convinced that the shots came from a high position.
The group based in New York, Human Rights Watch, who recently published a detailed report on political violence last year, concluded that the high velocity shells were fired by soldiers in the temple compound.
Officially, the investigation continues.
Continue reading the main historyIf my close was killed, the only thing that I do not want to know is the truth "end quote Karuna Buakamsri Thailand TV journalist among those slaughtered was 25 years old volunteer physician"Kamonkate Akahad, more simply known as nurse Kate.
In the main room of the House she shares with his mother and his brothers, photograph of Kate has privileged place. A simple shrine has been implemented; Ashes of Kate surrounded by his childhood dolls and fresh jasmine garlands.
His mother, Phayao, showed me the shirt over that Kate had died that day. It is clearly marked with a Red Cross and Terni with spots of blood.
Phayao learned what happened to her daughter from those inside the temple, at the time.
"Someone shot and Kate went to help," said Phayao.
"She (Kate) was dragging the person aggrieved within the temple." "Someone shouted ' hey, they are fire - return". ?
But she was a nurse and she thought that she would be safe. It was wrong to do so.
"I am so proud of my daughter," Phayao told me, his eyes filling with tears. "She sacrificed herself to help others."
Bitter legacyFollowing the bloodshed of last year, a truth and Reconciliation Commission had been established- but progress is slow.
One of the members of the commission, Somchai Homlaor, a respected human rights lawyer, said the BBC, it was difficult to obtain access to the soldiers directly involved in the confrontations. Other witnesses have been reluctant to come out of fear of prosecution.
Red shirt protesters held vigils to remember those who died during the demonstrations of last year"Unlike in South Africa East Timor or even in Cambodia, where investigations have been established after the conflict had already been completed, we work in a situation of conflict," Somchai said.
The red shirts were consolidated and now hold regular, peaceful rallies still pressing their demands for justice and equality, which they claim is devoid of Thailand.
The country is facing an election, due on 3 July, including some of the fears could sow the old resentments.
Journalist for local television, Karuna Buakamsri, travelled to other countries who have dealt with similar situations to see if lessons can be drawn from their experience. The comparison with the Thailand, she told me, is striking.
"When I was in Africa I learned that the culture is so different from culture Thai or Asian culture as a whole." They stand, they argue, and they speak. They bring about truth. It is painful, but it works in most cases.
"But in Thailand I do not think that we used in this way." But if my close was killed, the only thing that I do not want to know is the truth, Karuna said.
The truth behind the violence of May 19 has proven difficult to identify.
A year ago Phayao was not interested in politics. But since the death of his daughter, nurse Kate, she became a strong supporter of the red shirts.
During this time, Kanita completed his military training and is now deployed as clerk army in Bangkok. A mother become militant and a woman in the home-turned-soldier - such is the bitter legacy of the political turbulence of the Thailand.
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