The First Ever

[Bossza007]

14 November 2008, 2:00 AM, Phang Nga

‘Oh my god!’ The thought in my mind is spiraling. I am Songkhwan Jiarakit, a former public servant of the Provincial Assembly of Phang Nga Federation. It turned out I won the Confederation Election with 21 percent of all valid votes! “Yes!” I exclaimed, turning back to hold and raise my two-year-old son as my colleagues celebrated.

“Mama told you that she would win the election for your birthday!” Tears fell from my eyes as I remembered yesterday’s gravity of anticipation. My son marked his second year on Earth yesterday. The planet is crumbling under the weight of capitalist contradictions and the crisis of care. I do not know how long Earth’s ecology will last.

“Bee, it's time for you to make the speech.” One of my colleagues, Somsak, reminded me that I am now the Confederal Secretary of my nation. My assigned child caretaker took my son, and I breathed deeply. Within seconds, the crowd of restless people cheered my name.

“Comrades! The Confederation has officially begun its working hours!” I proclaimed.

“The beatings of our hearts can be heard across the Confederation. It is playing the drums of liberation, the song that demands the end to domination and the right for us to self-govern!” I saw seas of people erupt at my words.

Meanwhile, somewhere in the Bangkok Federation, the seat of the Confederal Government, Songkhwan’s live speech on television cast shadows over certain people watching her in a dark housing unit.

“These people elected her to replace that unpredictable man who led the transition?” A rough voice complained. “Well, since it’s a woman, I guess we won’t even need to use a gun.” As he smiled, his white teeth reflected the television’s light.

Bang Bang Bang! “This is CIB, open the door! You are under arrest under the provincial warrant! The police have surrounded the building!” Men inside the room could see red and blue lights flashing from the street.

“Well,” another man in the room sighed. “Suicide?”

“Yeah, suicide,” five people said collectively.

BOOM! BOOOOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

 

[Bossza007]

14 November 2008, 5:30 AM, Bangkok Federation, Don Mueang Airport

I finally arrived at the Bangkok Federation. The scale and efficiency of the airport and everything surrounding it felt somewhat overwhelming. She used to study at Ramkhamhaeng University in Bangkok twenty years ago. “Well, I guess that was okay for the first flight of my life.” I sighed and had to answer questions from several active citizens who approached me. Not shockingly, they are more knowledgeable than I regarding the situation. It’s their home province anyway.

Eventually, about five confederal officials approached me and informed me of stuff. “Well, I guess I’ll be remembered as the Confederal Secretary who officially began her duty the fastest.” I joked plainly as information flooded me.

“Hey!” A girl who looked around mid-20s shouted at me. She wears a very stylized, informal outfit. However, a confederal government emblem pin accompanied her clothing. She breathed heavily when she reached us. “You guys are idiots! I told you all to wait for me, too! I am not the type to use the toilet for a long time.”

Her face flushed as she looked and pointed at me. “And you. You! You are at fault! Ugh, I can’t believe my major in sociology is going to be wasted assisting a Confederal Secretary! I will take down everyone at the office who voted me for this stupid personal assistant role.”

I tried to speak for a few seconds before words exited my mouth. “Hello…? I assume you are my personal assistant? What’s your name? I’m Songkhwan.”

She looked at me annoyingly. “Of course, I know your name! Mine is Dada. And it’s not like I tell you my name because I want to know you personally. This is all about professionalism. Let's go where the explosion took place already.”

 

[Bossza007]

14 November 2008, 6:00 AM, Bangkok Federation

The streets of Bangkok were clean and organized. “I guess algorithm-based traffic lights are the future, and such a future has been going on for years. The advances and sophistication of how the Bangkok Federation manages itself never fail to amaze me. This is given that our economic activities and infrastructure are not even concentrated in Bangkok.” I said pedantically.

“Ugh, thanks, I guess.” My assistant, Dada, commented. “Speaking as if the Southerners don’t have agri-tech centers and fisheries development zones to themselves. Girl, have you even actually been to any other parts of this country?” She sighed, and I froze for a moment. ‘She’s still hostile,’ my mind thought, as if it was reminding me.

“Anyway, since you have decided to go to the crime scene, I have no other choice.” Dada turned on her tablet. Her note-taking application was full of official documents and handwritten notes. “Look, ‘Secretary’ Songkhwan, what an amicable name, your appearance is going to be a disaster. Therefore, we need to come up with a plan fast.”

I stared at Dada. “A disaster? I mean, of course, Dada, localism is a strong political current here, but my appearance and role domestically are symbolic and facilitative. I need to show up to my people as I am the only executive officer elected confederally and directly.” I paused to think. “A little over ten million people voted for me.” I felt what I just said wasn’t as good as I intended.

Dada stared back at me and said, “Hey, at least you are somewhat self=aware. Any person holding your office needs to know the spirit of our Confederation and some local contexts.” She paused, tapping her tablet screen. “You’ve gotten a tablet or something? I will share the documents.”

I gave her my tablet and watched. “Yeah, of course, it is going to be a disaster. Constitutionally, you were the only one sitting on the nine-member board of CIB. Of course, you were just elected, and the operation was planned by the previous administration under the previous Supreme Confederal Agreement. However, it is still a catastrophic joint operation between the Bangkok police and the CIB. 21% of people voted for you. congratulation. It isn’t even that extraordinary given systemic pluralism. You should be focusing on how fragmented the SCC and voter blocs are.” She paused for a while; her eyes seemed distant. “You should have known all about what I just said. But don’t because my info-dumping would have been wasted.”

I swallowed her words. It took some effort. “Thank you so much for briefing me, Dada. I understand now how precarious my position is. I appreciate your assistance a lot. Is there anything else I need to know?”

Dada seemed somewhat shocked, or rather, unaccepting, as her eyes turned away. “It is out of duty, remember that.” After a while, she turned back to me. “Well, this car is bullet-proof, of course, that's what you need to know. What a maniac, trying to go to the crime scene as a national leader when the Golden Hand is known to target such a position. You really need to know how much generosity the Bangkok Federation is giving you. Protection, coordination, information, transportation, housing, and many other things. I mean, transportation and housing are your rights, sorry.”

For the next half an hour, I travelled to the explosion site while talking to Dada, learning about my role and expectations. I tried to chit-chat and befriend her. However, it remained a difficult task.

 

[Bossza007]

14 November 2008, 7:00 AM, Bangkok Federation

Dada is on a phone call talking in a rather secure, non-defensive manner. It is weird to see her like that given my first impression of her two hours ago.

“Yeah, and then she suggested, ' Why don’t we call all three of them!” She raised her other hand in the air. “What a crazy person. I only told her that inviting the Bangkok guy who got the most votes was enough. Turns out she developed on my idea and said she needs a reliable popular base in our Federation!”

I froze again, quickly looking around myself. No one seemed to hear what she just exclaimed other than me.

“Seriously, I am sleep deprived. I know you said I didn’t need to accept the nomination but I also want to stop working as a field researcher. It demanded too much time away from you. At least now I don’t need to stay in another province for a few months straight anymore. I can be at home more frequently.” I saw she paused and looked down. “Thank you a lot for these past four years. I know our relationship and lives post-graduate haven’t been easy. But I am glad that we sailed through the storm together as a team.”

Before I could continue observing, a confederal agent approached me.

“Comrade Songkhwan. I am Suppakrit, a CIB officer responsible for overseeing our operation in the Bangkok Federation. Please accept this pile of papers.” I accepted those from him.

“These are physical written authorization of our latest operation in this provincial federation, which unfortunately ended in a catastrophic loss of lives. They are signed by the Executive Committees of relevant communes and the elected chief of Bangkok Provincial Law Enforcement. These papers constitute written consent that we are authorized to operate, conduct raids, gather intelligence, and seek judicial warrants. Our raid and any prior surveillances are conducted strictly to the law. We only serve in assisting capabilities, providing real-time intelligence and technical expertise to the police force.”

I nodded and gestured for him to continue.

“While we heavily regret the outcome, I wish to defend our competence. As you can see in the documents, CIB has been tracking this particular cell for three months now. They are, unmistakably, connected to the Golden Hand, which we know is funded and led by the Chearavanont family. The five individuals who were under arrest warrants had been planning a larger attack at the seating place of the Supreme Confederal Council. I am talking about mass killing and the assassination of our Confederation’s new political leader, which turned out to be you, comrade. The provincial police know all of this. However, we are waiting for them to inform us of their findings regarding the explosive devices. This was the only blind spot that led us to such a tragedy. We accept responsibility as part of our intelligence failure.”

He paused and asked:

“You are currently the only member of our bureau’s board of directors. My division wants to hold a press statement releasing everything we know. Comrade, please kindly consider it. I will forward the document to your personal assistant.”

I smiled and nodded. However, instead of walking away, he leaned forward and whispered, “Dada was a prominent Xenofeminist activist in her first-year at Thammasat University. Her passion for it died at the same time she met her boyfriend. She is still connected to the Xenofeminist circle, although she never engaged or publicly talked about such a subject since she entered her second-year.” He looked at Dada and said, “I am telling you this because I was once in the street alongside her. She hides a lot of insecurities and vulnerabilities behind her unique personality. Her relationship is her true sanctuary. I hope you will be a good partner for you. Thank you.” Then, he walked away.

I stared at the pile of papers he gave to me and thought, ‘it is as if I am added to a story that is ongoing and has its own thick plot.'

 

[Bossza007]

1 December 2008, 1:00 PM, Confederal Government House

I left a routine cabinet meeting alongside her SCC-elected colleagues. The mood was cooperative and insightful. I learned more about many considerations at the confederal level, as these ministers served as moderators for each specialized confederal apparatus. The Federations of Phang Nha, Surat Thani, Krabi, and Phuket reached a written agreement to construct two new double-tracked rail lines. As much as I rejoiced at the fact that rail transport would finally arrive at her home province, a matter of international relations disturbed me.

“Hey, Wanda,” I called Naiyana Sitwat, the foreign minister. “Can you elaborate on the situation in Turkiye. The meeting wasn’t really ideal for a deep dive into any specific country. I haven’t gotten the chance to ask the CIB for a briefing yet.”

“Yeah, of course. I’m not in a rush to return to the ministry.” She gestured with her hand to a sofa. “You know how it is, Bee. Bourgeois nations doubt us, and Persia is aiming at our head. Especially Persia, given that the Treaty of Amity is very lucrative and strategic. We are the ones who stand to lose from short-term supply chain disruption. For them, it’s a chance at modernization and a guaranteed buyer of their natural resources.” Wanda spoke so casually that it made me somewhat ungrounded.

“I suppose that a pragmatic take on the situation at hand,” I admitted reluctantly. “Let’s just move on to Turkiye. I don’t really want to get distracted by Persia. Your ministry can handle it.” I sat down and waited for Wanda to begin.

“Alright, the matter of Turkiye is pivotal.” She said. “They are a fragile, hybrid parliamentary democracy. I wouldn’t say that they are a fully functional liberal democracy yet. Apparently, there is a chance that the government might collapse soon, either from the ruling party’s internal rebellion or the vote of no confidence from the opposition, in which some government MPs might support.”

I raised my eyebrows and asked, “Is it about their cooperation with the United States? The Americans are really keen to establish a military base there. Speak of imperialism and militarism. Peace and security are really buzzwords.”

“You have the right sentiment, Bee. However, it is also about extreme political rhetoric, internal rebellion, and political polarization. I would say it is better to fragment as in our Confederation than to polarize as in Turkiye. Their Prime Minister is in a precarious position, and I pray for her attempt to stabilize the nation. Ayşe Çiller might be facing a multi-front crisis, but she is a liberalizing figure in Turkiye. It aligns somewhat with our agendas to ensure minority rights protection in their country, especially when it comes to the Kurdish people.”

I nodded vigorously and spoke, “Speaking of our Kurdish comrades, did you know that the PKK Bangkok cell will be visiting the CIB Headquarters soon? It turned out that the Kurdish Center for the Arts is also a front for its operation. I mean, they could have been transparent with us. We already knew that the other three organizations are controlled by the PKK. The Zagros Relief Office in Bang Rak. The Newroz Media Collective in Ratchathewi. And the Mesopotamia Trade Forum in Silom.” I paused and added, “The Bangkok police doesn’t really monitor them. They externalize it to the CIB. I guess if anything happens, the Confederal Government is at fault again.”

Wanda laughed and responded, “You have to accept that. Bangkok has a strong localist streak. At least we have an agreement on a general approach to public education in the Confederation. These localists are as supportive of the Confederation as we are. They are just more protective of their communes.”

I continued to talk to Wanda for the next fifteen minutes before we eventually parted ways. We didn’t really talk about the fact that the Turkish Government condemns our support of the PKK. To be honest, I also didn’t really care either.