I Little Slave

I Little Slave: A Prison Memoir From Communist Laos by Bounsang Khamkeo, Eastern Washington University, 2006. 

Laos

There are several different ethnic groups living in Laos. Lowland Lao (Theravada Buddhists), who speak the Lao language, which is similar to the Thai language. Lao Theung, on the mountain slopes, who speak a Mon-Khmer language, the language group of Vietnamese and Cambodian. Lao Soung, on the mountain tops, who speak Hmong. 

Author's Education

The author, Bounsang Khamkeo, was born and raised in Laos. He attended  the University of Toulouse in France, where he obtained a doctorate in political science. He returned to Laos in 1973 and obtained a civil service position in he Laotian government. He continued to work in the government, after the Pathet Lao took over the country in 1975. 

Pathet Lao

In 1975, when the Pathet Lao took control of Laos, many people fled Vientiane into Thailand. The Pathet Lao confiscated peoples’ money, farm land, food and businesses. Permits became required to travel or slaughter farm animals. Government employees had to obtain permission to marry. The Pathet Lao promoted an anti-individualist philosophy. The Party leadership was said to be always right. The people were not allowed to speak negatively about socialism or the Pathet Lao. The Pathet Lao promoted the peasants and sided against educated people. The Pathet Lao were under the control of the Vietnamese communists. Laos became a junior partner to Vietnam.

Mekong Committee

In 1977, Bounsang Khamkeo started working for the Mekong Committee, which investigated the development of the Mekong River in Laos and Thailand. In 1981 the author discovered that a corrupt government official, Somphavan Inthavong, had violated rules regarding sending official letters from the Mekong committee, and that this official had also arranged travel without proper consultations. When Bounsang Khamkeo confronted Somphavan Inthavong with evidence of his misbehavior, Somphavan Inthavong assaulted him, and had him arrested. The author was charged with passing secret information to the Thais.  

Arrest and Imprisonment

After his arrest, the author was first incarcerated in Vientiane at Phonesaad Detention Center.  Then he was sent to Red Cliff Reeducation Camp in northern Laos. After three years of slave labor there, he was transferred to Sop Hao Number 7 slave labor camp, near the border with Vietnam. At these various prison camps, the prisoners were not allowed to read, not allowed to speak French, and not allowed to contact their family. They receive no medical care. 

Release

In September 1988 the author was released. In 1989 he left Laos with his wife and two daughters for Thailand. After spending two months in Thailand, they went to the United States.