Pubdate: Sat, 03 Dec 2005
Source: Abbotsford News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 Hacker Press Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.abbynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1155
Author: Trudy Beyak

NEW GANG ON THE RADAR FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT

It's hard to imagine that a gang in this town abducted and tortured a
teenager to compel him to do their dirty work in our slimy drug and
weapons underground subculture.

But, according to the teen, it happened.

And, so far, the thugs have gotten away with it.

The graphic details of the torture the youth described are deeply
troubling.

I saw his injuries, the look in his eyes and those images will not
soon be erased from my mind.

Abbotsford (Conservative) MP Randy White came to this young man's
rescue.

The MP stepped into a frightening situation and went beyond the call
of duty to find the courageous teen a place to live in another
province where he is now going to school.

The teen says he is too afraid to testify against the UN Gang, because
he believes that the next time the gang members grab him, the torture
won't stop until he's dead.

A police officer recommended he leave town, given that the teen is too
afraid to testify and his life is threatened.

But is it acceptable to allow the gang to continue operating and
potentially, to victimize others?

White says "enough is enough," and the gangs must be
stopped.

For the first time, Police Chief Ian Mackenzie publicly confirmed the
fact that the UN Gang, for example, is operating in Abbotsford.

This gang has been a loose-knit group for many years and a formalized
gang for the past five years, according to the police chief.

Yet the public has had no idea.

White said there is a serious need for police and city leaders to deal
with the gang problem.

"We don't need a ghetto in our city - we've got to fight back."

Abbotsford Police must lead that fight, White said, adding that they
will have the community's support.

Readers may recall the violence that erupted about a decade ago and
potential problems brewing among poor immigrants living in the west
Clearbrook area and a budding criminal subculture.

This may be where the UN Gang set its roots, and now this gang is
operating in Abbotsford and Chilliwack with some 35-40 core members,
plus associates.

School board chairwoman Joanne Field said school administrators will
support strong police action to prevent our teenagers from being
victimized by street gangs.

As Field said, this is a problem that can't be ignored.

"It's like there is a rotten core to this city, and like an abscessed
cavity, it can't be ignored, otherwise, it'll only get worse."

The local police, the MP and the teen and his family should be
commended for going public about the UN Gang and other organized
criminal groups in Abbotsford.

Informing the community, however, is only the first step to trying to
solve a serious problem.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin