Silya Shessaun

Silya Shessaun was a female Human from Thesme who represented the Thesme sector in the Galactic Senate during the waning years of the Galactic Republic. Coming from a working-class family, she was one of the few non-upper class citizens of Thesme able to make a name for herself in the political arena. Due to her origins, Shessaun consistently championed the causes of the poor and underprivileged. During her time as a Galactic Senator, she often confided in her close friend, fellow Senator Padmé Amidala, of the Chommell Sector. Shessaun received only minor criticism in her tenure, since she seemed to focus on her sector as a whole more than her native Thesme.

Galactic Senator
At the age of twenty, Shessaun became Thesme's Galactic Senator, the first of her planet's working-class to do so. She carried her humble demeanor into office, where she would become a key figure in several social programs galaxy-wide. She did receive some criticism from those who felt she focused too much on the galaxy at large, rather than her native Thesme. Her friend Amidala would also join the senatorial ranks in 24 BBY, and the two would confer on issues constantly.

During the Separatist Crisis, Shessaun was called back to her homeworld to mediate a variety of territorial disputes. Several worlds under her jurisdiction in the Thesme sector threatened to secede and join the Confederacy of Independent Systems, but Shessaun had no intention of losing them, so she treated each dispute personally. She was one of the most vocal members of the Loyalist Committee outside Coruscant during the Clone Wars, but she missed the luxury of being able to discuss issues with Amidala. Despite this, Despite this, Shessaun refused to join the Galactic Delegation of Republic 2000, feeling that any effort to undermine Supreme Chancellor Palpatine would be tantamount to a Separatist act.[

The New Order
When the Clone Wars came to a close in 19 BBY, Shessaun heard that her good friend Amidala had perished in the so-called "Jedi rebellion." Shessaun was skeptical as to the circumstances of her friend's death, but she attended the funeral on Naboo nonetheless. Returning to Coruscant, she attempted to launch a Senate inquest into the death, but her attempts were blocked by Emperor Palpatine, who cited security concerns. Shessaun convinced that the Galactic Empire was a corrupt beast, and left the Senate until she was later arrested. She was taken to the prison where was later executed by Darth Vader.