SPEAKING OUT ABOUT TORTURED TEEN

"Sound far-fetched? Think again," she says, motioning to the quiet
teenage boy sitting on the couch in front of her.

His young body is marked by open wounds, bruises and permanent
injuries. He was treated at MSA General Hospital for his injuries.

Wearing a white T-shirt and shorts, John talks about a torture ordeal
that sounds like it should have occurred across the globe in a
war-torn Third World country - not Abbotsford.

John recounted his full story to the Abbotsford News, but this
newspaper cannot, at this time, print all of the details because of
the family's fears for their lives.

"This has been a living hell for our family," Gloria
says.

"Yet, the police are telling our kids to leave town, instead of
cleaning up our town so it can be safe again for our kids," she says.

According to Gloria, John is not the only teen to suffer this kind of
experience.

John has no criminal record, doesn't do drugs and has no desire for
violence, yet, he was recruited, involuntarily, into the UN Gang's
clutches while he was standing outside an Abbotsford high school.

But, more than his physical agony is the emotional pain of being
disillusioned by the police and the high school where he had asked for
help, he says.

He's almost in tears.

John has lived in Abbotsford all of his life.

It was a huge shock to him to hear that kids were being recruited by
the UN Gang, he says.

But, he learned from experience that it's true.

"Many of the kids don't have a choice, but to work for gangs in
Abbotsford or else the gangs give the kids offers that are so great
that they get into it, but, then, afterwards, they can't get out."

John says there are many drug customers, dealers and big buyers in
Abbotsford.

"There are probably at least 100 teenagers working as drug dealers
who've been recruited by the gangs in Abbotsford," he says. Working
gangs include: the UN Gang, the Hells Angels and the Asian Gang.

The kids can quit working for the Asians whenever they want, but the
U.N. Gang is different, John says.

"There are only two ways of leaving the UN Gang - either going to
prison - or in a body bag."

The UN Gang includes members of various ethnic groups such as Asians,
blacks, whites or other nationalities, according to John. That's why
they're called the UN Gang. he says.

Gloria is wearing sneakers and jeans and she peppers the conversation
with affectionate love and concern for John.

"I'm tough, but I can hardly sleep. I wake up in cold sweats," Gloria
says.

"I taught him not to fight, but I do think about what might happen to
him."

The family added extra locks to their doors.

Gloria asked the young teen to tell the Abbotsford Police about his
ordeal, but she said she was horrified by their response. "The cops
said they couldn't do anything for him," she says.

"The police told him to leave Abbotsford and never to come back,"
Gloria said.

"The cops said there is nothing we can do unless you testify and that
may put you and your family in even more danger."

The family is afraid of what will happen to John if a police
investigation results in criminal charges.

"I'll never testify, because, then I know I'll be dead," John
says.

He thinks there is a contract for his life because he knows too much.
He spoke about his experience at the prompting of Gloria, because he
wants Abbotsford to become a better place to live.

"If it makes a difference for other kids, then that's good. I want to
make it so that no kids have to go through what I did, ever again."

To make matters worse, John wanted to attend a local high school, but
was denied access to the school even though he didn't do anything wrong.

"I just want to be a normal teenager, again," he says.

Gloria and John say other kids have already moved out of this town, or
are in hiding somewhere.

Or they are the walking wounded - with scars that have no
explanation.

* This interview took place in an urban neighbourhood in Abbotsford
earlier this fall. "John" and "Gloria" are not their real names,
because they believe their lives may be in danger.