Thailand to Turkey | Bilateral Relationship

[Bossza007]

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Surakiart nodded calmly as he listened to his counterpart. A moment of contemplation crossed his mind before responding. “Revolutionary romanticism is a sentiment to be walked with balance, comrade. The goal is to liberate the working class from capitalist oppression, not merely to cling to a constructed identity of patriotism. Thailand shares a strategic partnership with Spain, a thread we traverse carefully. Of course, if the material condition in the country reaches its historically required threshold, our confederation will have no issue supporting the worker-led movement.” He paused, sipping his ever-freezing cup of Turkish tea.

“If you insist, I have a few questions. First, what is this government’s relationship with the Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions, the same organization that led the proletarian revolution? Second, what is the relationship between your President and that of this cabinet?”

Jay​

 

[Jay]

Eda tilted her head slightly as Surakiart finished, She reached for the ornate samovar beside them, steam curling from its spout as she poured a glass of tea for him first, then one for herself. The liquid shimmered in the low light.

She set the glass down in front of him gently before speaking. “You give the Confederation Unions too much credit, comrade,” she began. “Yes, they were part of the street mobilizations. Yes, their role in organizing the strikes and holding firm lines mattered in the early days. But let’s not rewrite history to suit their myth-making.”

Eda leaned back slightly, her eyes steady. “If it had been up to them, we’d still be sitting at roundtables with fascists in suits, sipping mineral water and bargaining away our demands for another decade. It was the people, those of us who made it into this building, who took decisive action when the hour struck. We broke the deadlock. We forced the shift. The unions played their role, but they didn’t lead the revolution. We did.”

She took a sip of her tea, the glass warming her fingers. “As for the President, Comrade Ayşa has always had a gift. Not for confrontation, but for building bridges. It was her patience and quiet persistence that brought the divided factions of the left, radical syndicalists, the democratic socialists, even the humanists on the center into a single, functional cabinet. I won’t pretend we’ve always agreed. Ideologically, she’s... softer than I am. More accommodating. Too willing to believe that compromise is always possible.”

Eda glanced at Surakiart with a wry smile. “But she’s also a friend. A true one. We’ve known each other since before any of this was real. And while she tries to hold the center, I’ve always been at her side to guard the edges. Where her hand hesitates, mine does not.”

She raised her glass slightly. “So, if you’re wondering who holds the line in Ankara, it’s the two of us. But only one of us ever locks the door.”

Bossza007

 

[Bossza007]

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Surakiart tilted his head slightly in confusion before regaining his composure. “Comrade Eda, I don’t presume to know more about your country’s recent history than you do. However, our Office of Foreign Intelligence under my Ministry monitored class struggles globally. The truth is unchangeable; the proletarian revolution in Türkiye was led by the Confederation of Trade Unions and joined by protesters nationwide. Trade unionists or not, your population majority is the working class. On that momentous day predicted by historical materialism, workers refused to go to their jobs, bureaucrats abandoned their government departments, and the lower ranks in the Turkish military laid down their arms. These are all proletarian—the real definition of the people. Your government came to power through the Turkish Worker Party, formed by the Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions. It secured a 70% landslide while the Kurdistan Workers’ Party gained 10% of the seats, with the other 5% belonging to centrist and right-wing parties. The Socialist Republic of Thailand’s fraternity aligns with the working class only, not any revolutionary state.”

He paused to emphasize. “Regardless, I’d rather wait until the evening so the President’s signature arrives and I can sign it next.”

Jay​

 

[Jay]

Eda nodded slowly, her expression thoughtful as she listened. “Comrade Surakiart,” she began evenly, “the Confederation of Trade Unions brought us to the gates, but they didn’t get us across the finish line. It was a convergence of students, civil servants, and villagers marching under red flags. And yes, of course, the unions were essential, and their sacrifices won’t be forgotten. But let’s be clear: today, in the Parliament of the Republic, their faction within the Workers’ Party accounts for some fifty members. The majority, my majority, comes from a broader base. Agricultural collectives, district organizers, tenant councils, and the municipal federations. They built this movement just as surely as any factory floor.”

She leaned forward slightly, “This isn’t a contest of who bled more. We respect the unions, we honor their role, but I won't overstate it to flatter anyone. We are here because the working class stood up in all its forms and stayed standing after the first wave passed.”

She exhaled, then softened her tone. “As for the communique, I agree. Let’s take the evening. When the President’s signature arrives, we can come back to it together tomorrow morning.”

She stood and extended her hand diplomatically, as the Thai Foreign Minister turned to leave.

As Surakiart walked down the corridor, out of earshot, Eda’s tone shifted. She turned to one of her advisors with a wry grin.

“Kemal stepping down, you say?” The aide nodded.

Eda let out a dry laugh. “That old geezer’s finally tired, is he? I was starting to think they’d have to carry him out in a box. Let's see what we have to do to keep his replacement in line.”

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[Bossza007]

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Surakiart accepted the handshake and said, “I agree to disagree then. There is no use in making hostility based on a different interpretation, comrade Eda.” He turned to leave but then pivoted back. “Also, please accept Thailand’s deepest congratulations that the two highest offices in this country are now presided over by the fairer sex. We commend Türkiye’s ability to put a historically oppressed gender under patriarchy in the seats of leadership. It is admirable. I wish our next Rotating Coordinator would be a woman. Unfortunately, the quota is already fifty-fifty.” He took his leave and walked around the Turkish Presidential Palace, finding activities to pass the time.

Eventually, Surakiart arrived at the botanical garden and picked up his phone, and called the Thai ambassador to Türkiye. He would return to meet the Turkish Prime Minister when the event arrived to give his signature.

Jay​

 

[Jay]

It was just past seven on a quiet spring morning in Istanbul, and Prime Minister Eda Yıldırım sat alone at the breakfast table in her private residence. The soft aroma of brewed Turkish tea mingled with the warm scent of fresh bread and olives.

Eda, dressed in a cream silk robe, paged through a leather-bound folder of handwritten notes when an aide walked in.

He stepped forward, tablet in hand. “Comrade Madam Prime Minister,” he said, lowering his voice. “The President has signed the memorandum with the Socialist Republic of Thailand, it came through from Madrid ten minutes ago.” Eda paused, putting down the slice of bread with olives and feta. “Contact Foreign Minister Surakiart immediately,” she said, rising. “Invite him for breakfast at the Government Complex."

By late morning, the sun stood high over Ankara, and the air inside the Government Complex was cooled by the centralized air conditioning. The breakfast spread that mirrored the one from Eda’s home, now set for two, including other side dishes. Eda greeted the Thai Foreign Minister when he arrived.

“Minister Surakiart,” she said, ushering him to the table. “I’m glad you could come on such short notice.” The prime minister smiled, settling into her seat. As tea was poured, Eda leaned forward slightly,. “I wanted you to hear it from me first, the President, as of this morning in Madrid, has signed the memorandum. It is now official.”

Bossza007

 

[Bossza007]

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Surakiart arrived at the Turkish Government Complex swiftly following notification. He remained suited in the same clothing, albeit a different replica. A whirlwind of diplomatic protocols compelled him to greet and exchange positive words with local officials. After, he sat at a dining table for brunch prepared by the Turkish government. He listened to his female counterpart before replying. “That’s wonderful news, Comrade Eda. Thailand and Türkiye now stand in solidarity against imperialism, neo-colonialism, and capitalist oppression. Please, let me sign the original copy.” He would sign the joint communique, solidifying the ties between the two countries. “Excellent! This is such a historic moment, Comrade Eda. Let’s enjoy this breakfast, shall we? I’d love to know more about you personally, unless you have other official agendas in mind. I still have errands to run back in the Socialist Republic.”

Jay​

 

[Jay]

"Please, after you, Comrade," Eda said, her voice soft as she reached for the plate of cured sujuk and placed a few slices on Surakiart’s plate. Then came soft-boiled eggs, warm simit bread, a handful of olives, and a spoonful of tangy menemen — stewed tomatoes and peppers with egg, still warm from the kitchen.

Only then did she serve herself, before she crossed one leg over the other and regarded him with a small nod. "There isn't much there, Comrade." She laughed. "I was born in Adana in the south of the country into what many would consider an impoverished family. Gangs and violence plagued our village, and occasional bandit raids would terrorize our small community." She said taking a bite of the sujuk, which was placed on top a spoonful of menemen.

"It may surprise you, Comrade, but I was actually a Kemalist once," she said with a hearty laugh, wiping her mouth. "At the time, I believed Kemalism and the military were vital organs of the nation, that they would bring peace and security. As a young girl living in a small village, I longed for the peace that Kemalism promised. But I quickly realized that both the military and Kemalism were fundamentally anti-democratic and opposed to true progress."

She frowned as she swallowed her food. "Growing up in this country hasn’t been easy, Comrade. It’s been full of hardship. And I think those experiences radicalized me in ways I didn’t understand until much later."

Eda tore off a piece of simit with her fingers, then placed a bit of menemen and sujuk on it. "My teacher, Mr. Fişek, introduced me to communism when I was a teenager. Learning about socialism opened my eyes to the deep inequalities in our country. Why did the urban elites have so much while we had so little? How could the cities shine with endless lights while we barely had enough coal to survive the winter? The divide between the haves and have-nots wasn’t just unfair...it was unjust."

She topped her small sandwich with an olive before taking a bite. "Then the army overthrew the government and unleashed its dogs on the working people. One day, my teacher was there; the next, he was gone. His body was only found years later. That was when I truly realized: peace would never come from the Army or Kemalism."

"I fled to the Soviet Union to study engineering, but the country was already falling apart, something we could spend hours discussing. Eventually, I returned home. I took up arms, joined a militia, and fought the Kemalists for years."

She smiled faintly. "Who would have thought the young girl from Adana, who loved to paint and read, would become a fighter?" Taking another bite of her small sandwich, she looked up at Surakiart. "And you, Comrade Surakiart...what is your story?" She asked, wiping her mouth and dusting off the crumbs from her pants.

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[Bossza007]

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Surakiart savored the Turkish breakfast’s rich flavor; Middle Eastern cuisine has stood the test of time. It was a taste of appreciation. Of course, he would have thought. Yet so many complexities remain. Was it appropriate to celebrate this early? How much space was reserved for individual achievement in a society striving for collective liberation, where the lines between the two blurred? It was not something he could decide. However, a lesson in personality always accompanies a friendly meal with an acquaintance.

“Adana…” He murmured, imagining the image of the Turkish Southern coastlines. “Impoverishment, sadly, is something I never experienced during my childhood. Gang violence was never within my sight. I was merely a betrayer of my bourgeoisie class when the revolution arrived. I do not presume to comprehend workers’ struggles in capitalist societies. The best I can afford is sympathy from a position of shame.” Despite still being in the morning, Surakiart ordered a bottle of local wine, pouring it into his glass. He took a prolonged moment to sip it. “Even though I came from such a background, all wines still taste the same for me. My parents would beg to differ.” He put the glass down and played with his fork.

“The system once fooled each of us, Comrade Eda. It is great that you know your past.” He paused, unwillingly, as a thought slipped his mind. “My mentor always said that knowing oneself is the best you can achieve individually, whether in the past or the present. I, however, regret that so many people are committed to anti-democratic regimes throughout the globe. As a distinguished professor once in my lifetime, I have visited many universities and towns worldwide. Everywhere I go, each society is stiffened with authoritarianism. A single person called the CEO is supposed to have dictatorial power over all others within the same enterprise. Students in school have no voice in the institution’s management, although they represent the majority. Only liberal propaganda would be able to instill such an anti-democratic norm.” He let out a half-suppressed laugh.

“I am now the leader of Thailand’s largest communist party, controlling more than 30% of coordinating seats in the National Assembly. Like you, though circumstances differ, I have faced numerous adversaries. The royal government, the self-interested army, and the corrupted independent institutions. They were all serving their benefits, not the collective well-being.” He paused to finish his breakfast.

“I had an interesting conversation with our ambassador in Ankara recently. She said the Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions wishes to call for a general strike. Apologize if I am overstepping, but I request your assistance in arranging a meeting with a high-level official from the President's Office. She has a variety of team members, hasn’t she? Specifically, it would be great if I such an official could meet with our ambassador. It will be even better if such a person could join us. There is a conversation I wish to have following our historic joint communique.”

Jay​