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Post by zurajai on Sept 14, 2015 23:30:30 GMT -6
With news of crumbling relations between the newly elected government of the Union of Asteron and their counterparts from the Revolutionary Worker's Union spreading like wildfire it had become clear to the Wuxianese government and the Yuyan himself that the peace the Asteran people had fought so hard to gain was teetering on a cliff that was being mined out from underneath them. With that in mind and under the direct orders of the Yuyan the Chancellery reached out to the two governments and pleaded for the two to come to an accord. In order to facilitate such diplomacy the Yuyan offered to preside over the peace talks between the two parties, inviting two representatives from both governments to come take part as well as a more open, tenuous invitation to the two outside nations involved in the defense of Asteron; the Kwazan and Viscarri governments. The two guests would act as external observers and were allowed to speak their mind as long as they remained civil and remembered the talks were intended to find a peaceful outcome between Asteron and the RWU, not support their personal causes. The talks themselves were to take place on the Nezha I-Class Destroyer, The Yangtze, due to the nature of the moderate, neutral position held by the Wuxianese government. The warship would be outfitted for the purposes of holding the diplomatic meeting and would be staffed by officials from the Department of State affairs who had been prepped for such an occasion. Beyond the skeleton crew of military officers left aboard to pilot and run the ship there was no military presence to speak of; this was to be a solely diplomatic venture. With the invitations sent the officer's mess had been refitted for use as makeshift diplomatic chambers, replete with a hardlight round table to discuss over. The Yuyan remained seated with the Chancellor, Zhao Yu, standing to his back right as his second.
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Post by killer spork on Sept 15, 2015 7:06:58 GMT -6
The Asteran delegation consisted of President Sidow, General Kruger, and Colonel Abdulya, alongside a few of the President's aides and other functionaries. The inclusion of the army was an unworded statement that after much haggling and backroom deals, he at last had secured the armies cooperation. Whether this ''alliance'' of mutual interest would keep was a matter for another day. But it gave the Asteran President leverage in any negotiations. You didn't need votes to stay in power, you needed guns... and the army composed of millions of troops was willing to protect his regime as long as the President didn't attempt to purge their ranks like his predecessor Ambrose.
'' Most Benevolent Yuyan, I thank you for hosting these talks. '' President Sidow said, offering a bow. The rest of the delegation, some begrudgingly, joining him.
'' I hope today that we are able to resolve our differences and move forward. ''
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Post by zurajai on Sept 15, 2015 10:33:19 GMT -6
"This is my hope as well, Honored President Elect," spoke the Yuyan in his melodious, other-wordly tone, "It would be a great tragedy for billions of citizens, from both Asteron and the RWU, if we failed this day to reach some sort of middle ground."
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Post by RWU on Sept 15, 2015 15:18:59 GMT -6
If the host of these talks were anyone but the Yuyan, the RWU might have ignored the invitation. But seeing as the Wise One was revered by over a billion RWU citizen-members, and that the Wuxian Empire was the closest thing the Union had to an ally, President-Premier Briyandawas Karad made the time to be present. Accompanying her were Councilor-Admiral Alagh Walayad, Councilor-Marshal Quintus Kazamar, and Foreign Secretary Sebastiyan Kniov, along with a handful of aides.
"It is an honor to be your guest," Karad greeted the Yuyan, following quickly with a bow that her whole delegation mirrored. "I share in your hopes for a peaceful resolution to the tensions between the two Unions, yet I would point out the conflict isn't simply nation against nation. At least forty-nine percent of Asterans, not only against but in antagonistic contradiction with the ANF government, are not represented here today."
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Post by killer spork on Sept 15, 2015 15:28:07 GMT -6
'' Yes, but this is a democracy. Majority rule has won. '' President Sidow countered, he was growing increasingly tired of the RWU's intrusion into Asteran affairs. '' As far as I am concerned, the Union of Asteron needs to be left to it's own devices. The constant interference by the RWU into our domestic affairs and agenda is dangerous. I would ask that the RWU recognize the results of the election and move forward with a constructive and profitable relationship between our two nations. However, continuing this antagonistic attitude is unacceptable. ''
'' The Asteran Armed Forces has recognized the results of the elections as legitimate. The Electoral Commission cannot find evidence of irregularities. We stand by to defend the nation. '' General Kruger growled. Was there a hint of smugness to his tone? Perhaps. After the pressure that the RWU had exerted upon Asteron's military, it had shifted its focus from battling the capitalists to preparing for an armed confrontation with its former ally.
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Post by RWU on Sept 15, 2015 15:36:09 GMT -6
"Democracy is more than an electoral process," President Karad replied calmly. "It is a state of affairs where the people hold the power in the everyday, economically and politically. It is my impression, and correct me if I'm wrong, that the ANF has every intention of concentrating material wealth and power into the hands of the capitalist-industrialist class, and using state power to protect their property newly-expropriated from state enterprises and people's cooperatives."
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Post by Admin on Sept 15, 2015 15:40:25 GMT -6
"Those people voted in the election. Their voice was heard." Mma Ikwana Ghata pointed out. The Kwazan were of course eager to attend any meeting put up by the Yuyan, especially one regarding such a critical issue in their "backyard." If Asteron fell under the RWU's sway Kwazan would no doubt be the next target. "If they still oppose the ruling government in five year's time, they may vote against it in the next election. Isn't that what the RWU initially demanded? Democracy."
Not that Kwazan was highly attached to democracy. They saw unity and tradition as more important than throwing a ballot in a box, but if the RWU wanted to preach its rhetoric they were more than willing to call them out on it.
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Post by RWU on Sept 15, 2015 15:46:36 GMT -6
"I will clear the record by clarifying a point: We never demanded electoral democracy," the President-Premier replied to the Kwazan delegate. "We simply demanded better representation and autonomy for the working masses. The military offered elections as a concession to Asteran workers with which we were organizing in solidarity, but in retrospect it was no concession at all."
The Ayar punctuated her speech with a pause before continuing, "If I have any regret, it is not our 'intervention,' but rather that I had too much faith in the Asteran Army's intentions. We should have pushed for concrete reforms specifically for the factories and fields, which would not have opened the door to a reactionary takeover."
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Post by killer spork on Sept 15, 2015 15:49:44 GMT -6
'' What you are saying is that you want to turn the Union of Asteron into a puppet state controlled by your proxy parties. Which is what the PUF is! Everyone knows the connections Vos has to your government and that your Ministers openly campaigned with her! It is a dictatorship in another form. '' Sidow sneered, pounding on the table with his fist. '' The Asteran people have made a choice and they have rejected Unionism and they have rejected you. If you want to impose your will upon us, then war will be the answer. ''
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Post by RWU on Sept 15, 2015 16:02:47 GMT -6
"Have I raised my voice, Comrade Sidow?" asked the Ayar Premier, eyes on the human President's fist that had just smashed on the table. "Your anger is telling. Your accusations against the PUF are a distraction from the real issues facing ordinary Asterans, and your comparison of the RWU to a 'dictatorship' is ludicrous. We are a workers' union, we organize workers. We saw that the Asteran workers were being oppressed, and we sent organizers to propose a solution, which dozens if not hundreds of millions accepted of their own accord. And now that we have members in Asteron, we will defend them. Not only them, but what they stand for: The Asteran proletariat and peasantry.
"If you oppose any of this, then you are opposing the fundamental workings of any labor union, which causes even greater concern to me and my Union comrades. Either you are for freedom of organization and association, or you are against it."
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Post by killer spork on Sept 15, 2015 16:13:45 GMT -6
'' I oppose you. '' The President said flatly. His gaze traveling to the Benevolent Yuyan. '' We appear to be at an impasse. Much needed economic reforms that will liberalize the Asteran economy and make it competitive will be treated by the RWU as an attack on 'its workers'. I cannot consent to the RWU's influence within my nation. Unless you come to the table with a realistic offer, then I will move forward with my domestic agenda. Otherwise, the baseless rhetoric you continue to spew is just words. I would ask the Yuyan for guidance. ''
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Post by vaklu on Sept 15, 2015 18:42:08 GMT -6
The Viscarri had sent a single representative to these proceedings, just to show willing. Vitali Demor was reading a data slate checking on the recent progress of his favored sports team while the RWU and Asteron Presidents spat accusations and insults at eachother. Like a pair of down hive juvs before a rumble. "Excuse me President Sidow, President-Premier Karad but the problem here is that neither of you respect the others' political system, but let's be fair the RWU doesn't respect any political system that doesn't conform to Leneru's little manifesto. You're arrogant and now you're throwing a fit because your attempt to meddle in the domestic affairs of others has gone a way you didn't expect. And you President Sidow, haven't you ever dealt with a sulking child before? Stop taunting them." He slid his finger across the slate lazily, still reading scores and play by plays. "If the Asterans decide to have a civil war over it that's up to them it's their domestic dispute to settle for themselves. Syndicalism has lost on Asteron, twice now. Once when the military took over and the people just moved on with their lives and now in the polls. The horse is dead, get off already."
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Post by zurajai on Sept 15, 2015 20:31:21 GMT -6
"That is enough," reverberated the Yuyan, his placid voice carrying unlike ever before to fill the room with sound despite the lack of any organ capable of projecting such noise, "I am dismayed, my friends. My heart aches to hear such terrible conflict ring through this chamber for it is but the smallest facet of the horrors that may come from this. Both parties speak as though they care for their people yet both seem so willing to send those very citizens to their deaths simply because the other side won't give in. This is deeply troubling."
The Yuyan stood from his seated position, movement slowed as if floating through space as his six secondary arms rearranged themselves to form his usual halo behind himself. Silvery, reflective skin shimmered as his faceless features passed over the crowd and though no emotion could be gleaned from frown or furrowed brow it was if his whole body spoke boldly of the absolute sadness that weighed him down. All the while the Chancellor lowered his head and raised his hands together in standard Wuxianese salute.
"President-Premier Karad; you know there is a place for your cause in my heart and one that both the Imperial Bureaucracy and I have worked hard to give concessions too. President Sidow; I wept for your people's suffering under the threat of the insectoid invaders and my government has already attempted to support the reconstruction efforts of your people. My heart goes out to both of your people for I feel love for them all. However, in this very moment I feel only pity for those who lead them: if you both fail to reach an accord before leaving I will be forced to publicly express my displeasure with both governments for failing to truly strive for their people's safety and well-being. Now. Chancellor Zhao Yu, please speak your mind on the proposals you have previously voiced to me."
"Thank you, my Yuyan," spoke Zhao as he raised his head at last, stepping forward just enough to be right behind the Yuyan, "Respected and Honored Representatives, I have a simple proposal so that true and honest discussion may finally flourish. I propose, in it's most simplest form, that unionization and freedoms involving workers in their work place remain strong within Asteron with one major change; they will not be associated with the RWU. They will be government mandated, similar to how they are in our Yuyan's Empire. Such unions will exist to keep the workers protected whilst also giving the power to them, not the foreign power of the RWU. I also would recommend the institution of a lower house to represent the commoners in the electoral system, not just a single legislature. This would verify much of the power to be held by the citizens of your honored nation, President Sidow. Obviously my proposal is but a skeleton of what will, hopefully, become a full body but it is a necessary step in the right direction."
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Post by RWU on Sept 15, 2015 21:50:08 GMT -6
The RWU delegation simply ignored the remarks from the Viscarri representative. There was no use engaging such rhetoric from the dignitary of an Empire that had little to no bearing on the situation at hand. The Yuyan and the Chancellor, on the other hand, elicited great attention. It was Alagh Walayad who took on the task of responding.
"Divine One and good Chancellor, the system of State Syndicalism has functioned well under the Yuyan's Enlightened Bureaucracy, but Astera has no such equivalent. And more importantly, there are enough internal divisions and factions in Asteron that state-controlled unions would doubtless provoke unrest. It does not help that the ANF quite transparently represents the interests of the capitalist owners, and that it has refused to incorporate any other parties in its cabinet. President Sidow is a wealthy industrialist himself, clearly not someone who can be trusted to deal with workers' councils fairly.
"The RWU has always, now does, and will always maintain that it is an Internationalist labor union. What many of you call 'meddling' is simply expanding membership and growing the movement. It is disappointing that some of the delegates here today care more about national sovereignty and non-interference than the actual masses of people on the ground. Our union branches in Asteron were created by free agreement and association, without any coercion on our part.
"That being said, for the purposes of peacemaking, we are willing to consider disaffiliating, if the workers in the branches agree. The Chancellor's proposal is sound, except for central government control as I mentioned. If President Sidow can agree to respect worker self-management and unionization in all currently state-owned or cooperative-owned workplaces in Asteron, and if these organizations will be independent of the both the RWU and the Asteran National Front, I believe we will have a situation where we can recognize President Sidow's government as legitimate."
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Post by killer spork on Sept 15, 2015 22:05:03 GMT -6
'' The Asteran state is under threat from this 'movement'. It's yet another form of imperialism. '' Sidow sneered. '' But, I can agree to the terms that are laid out here. The creation of a lower house for direct elections by the people. I have no interest in crushing unions or the rights of workers. My chief and principal concern is that RWU cease its involvement in the Asteran state. If the RWU can agree to end its association with these unions and end its support for Asteron's internal parties, then an agreement can be reached. ''
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