WINTER HAVEN, Fla., Aug. 25, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- In his new book, A Crime of Freedom: The Festive Killing (now available through AuthorHouse) Joe P. Homsombath illustrates the horrors of oppression through one boy's courageous story. Alun, who is only 13, narrates this tale of a nation's fight for peace and freedom.
Alun and his family endure years of hardship as a secret war rages against communism in Laos. When the battle ends, they long to return to a tranquil life on their farm. However, an oppressive new regime is rising. The communist government soon seizes control of all private property and possessions. Individual rights are stripped away, and the citizens of Laos discover they are suddenly isolated from Western culture.
A group of elite, young soccer players, the Ravens, which includes some of Alun's relatives, rebels against the tyranny with public displays of protest. As a result, many of these young men are arrested or killed. One of Alun's big brothers, Lek, and his cousin escape, however, and find refuge in a nearby monastery. Instructed by his father, Pomma, Alun guides the refugees to a distant farm and the two eventually flee to Thailand.
With the rebellious youth out of the way, the communist government focuses on Lao teachers, including Pomma. He and his friends are sent to camp, where they endure hard labor and poor living conditions as they are forced to accept communism. Pomma witnesses the mass murder of a mountain tribe and is forced to help bury men, women and children, a scene that haunts him forever.
Another tragedy hits when Lek is captured by police, tried and executed in front of thousands of Lao citizens. Rocked with horror at the news, Alun's parents make a courageous decision that could ultimately give the family fresh hope for freedom.
An inspiring story of the strength of the human spirit and the pursuit of liberty, A Crime of Freedom exposes the grim lives of a people oppressed while exploring the beauty of an Asian culture and spirituality.
Born in Laos, Homsombath fled the country and immigrated to the United States. He was educated in the United States and became a citizen in 1989. He has worked as a federal civil rights investigator and a police officer and has served in the U.S. Army. The events of Sept. 11 inspired Homsombath to write this novel, his first, as a testament to the importance of freedom and the hope and opportunity it allows for Americans. He is currently working on a sequel that details a family's long and difficult journey to America.
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