‘They don’t even know who these other gangs are and their enemies’

BY INDIRA PRAHST
Chair, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, & Race and Ethnic Relations Instructor, Langara College 

CONSTABLE Doug Spencer, Intelligence and Gang Resource Officer with Transit Police and a former Vancouver Police detective constable who is a well-known gang expert, warns that gang members have actually put themselves at greater risk “by forming their own little alliances and groups, thinking they are making themselves safer.”
Spencer pointed out the irony of it all: “But what they don’t realize is that those gangs come with other enemies. In fact, they are actually putting themselves at far more risk because they don’t even know who these other gangs are and their enemies. Alliances have become so blurred that who is against who is really hard for police officers like myself who know all of these guys to figure out and on whose side they are on.” Spencer told me in an interview on gang alliances that this was actually why there has been “a lot of back and forth shootings” since last August’s Kelowna incident in which Red Scorpion leader Jonathan Bacon was killed when he, Larry Amero, a full-patch Hells Angels member from White Rock, Read More...

......... RATTAN'S ROAR

• FEDERAL FINANCE MINISTER IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT TO GET TOUGH ON UNEMPLOYED: NO JOB SHOULD BE BELOW ANYONE!

• NDP IS IN A VERY STRONG POSITION RIGHT NOW – BUT DIX IS RIGHT NOT TO TAKE THINGS FOR GRANTED, BECAUSE ...

• UNIVERSITY EDUCATION SHOULD BE MUCH CHEAPER IN NORTH AMERICA: MAKE BANKS WITH OBSCENE PROFITS PAY FOR IT!

• DASHMESH UNITED FC WOMEN’S TEAM BECOME THE FIRST INDO-CANADIAN CLUB TO BE CROWNED U21 GIRLS PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONS

  LAST Saturday (May 12), the Dasmesh United FC women’s team played Pitt Meadows Shock in the BCSA U21 Provincials at Burnaby Lake West. Last season, the team went undefeated in the league and cup play but fell one goal short in the U21 Provincials in a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to North Coquitlam. This year, the team was looking to get back into the U21 Provincials and it was not an easy task. Read More... .................... ...........

• ABBOTSFORD TRUCKER BALDEV GREWAL KILLED WHILE SAVING FELLOW TRUCKER IN CALGARY

  ABBOTSFORD trucker Baldev Grewal in a heroic act pushed co-worker Balwinder Sidhu out of harm’s way when he saw a runaway SUV headed for them as they stood on a median on a Calgary street and got killed himself last week on Friday. Grewal, whose funeral will be held on Sunday in Abbotsford, and Sidhu had parked their trucks on the median, which police say was legal. Grewal was trying to get tie-down chains for his load from Sidhu. Read More...

• NARINDER NAYAR RECOGNIZED BY SURREY RCMP FOR TRYING TO PROTECT RAVINDER KAUR BHANGU

  NARINDER Nayar, who tried to protect Ravinder Kaur Bhangu, 24, in the office of the Punjabi newspaper Sach Di Awaaz in the business complex located in the 8100 block of 128th Avenue in Surrey when her estranged husband allegedly attacked her with an axe and a meat cleaver, received a Surrey RCMP Officer-in-Charge Award on Tuesday at the Surrey Arts Centre. Read More... ..

• BOBBY SANGHERA, NAVDIP SANGHERA AND SAVDIP SANGHERA FOUND GUILTY ON GUN CHARGES

  BOBY Sanghera and his cousins Navdip and Savdip Sanghera were each convicted of firearms offences by B.C. Supreme Court Justice Heather Holmes on Thursday. However, co-accused Charanjit Rangi and Jaspreet Virk were acquitted, but the judge noted that the circumstances surrounding them were “highly suspicious.” Boby and Navdip were found guilty in connection with the seizure of three loaded handguns from a rented black Chrysler pulled over by police in November 2008. Savdip was found guilty of selling a handgun in January 2009. Read More... ...........................................

• FEDERAL LIBERAL HYPOCRISYCONTINUES AS NDP DEMANDS APOLOGY FOR KOMAGATA MARU IN PARLIAMENT FROM HARPER

  EVEN as NDP MP Jasbir Sandhu (Surrey North) put forward a motion on Friday demanding that Prime Minister Stephen Harper officially apologize in the House of Commons to the South Asian community for the 1914 Komagata Maru incident, the federal Liberals continued with their hypocrisy with their leader Bob Rae issuing a statement just before his visit to Vancouver this weekend criticizing the Conservative government for refusing to apologize in Parliament. Read More..................... ....................................... .

• RICHMOND MULTICULTURAL COMMUNITY SERVICES’ FUNDRAISER A RESOUNDING SUCCESS

  RICHMOND Multicultural Community Services (RMCS) has been serving this community for more than 25 years. It has been running a variety of programs and services to help new immigrants lead a productive life in a new environment. Moreover, RMCS has been empowering immigrants – new and old – to integrate and become proud members of their community. In this context, it conducts multiple workshops and seminars in the community. In addition to that, every year RMCS holds a fundraiser /dinner gala. Read More............................................................... .............................................

• KIRPAN TO BE ACCOMMODATED AT TORONTO COURTHOUSES

  THE World Sikh Organization of Canada has worked with the Ontario Human Rights Commission, Toronto Police Service, Toronto Police Services Board, and the Ministry of the Attorney General to develop an accommodation policy for the kirpan in Toronto courthouses.  The kirpan is an important article of faith worn by amritdhari or initiated Sikhs which represents spiritual wisdom and the duty to stand against injustice.  Read More... ........

• SIKH POLICE OFFICERS IN WASHINGTON, D.C., ALLOWED TO WEAR TURBANS, BEARDS AND OTHER RELIGIOUS ITEMS

  BURNABY RCMP alerted the public on Friday about Shalendra Kumar Sharma, 43, of Surrey, who was released from custody on Wednesday and is now awaiting trial for sexual assault and other violent crimes against women. Additional victims and information about Sharma is being sought by investigators who are also warning women and the general public that Sharma is dangerous and extreme caution should be taken if he is encountered. Read More... ......................................... ........................................

• UNIONS, NGO’S SAY NEW MIGRANT WORKER PROGRAM UNFAIR: EMPLOYERS CAN PAY MIGRANT WORKERS LESS

  A group of unions and non-government organizations say that recently announced changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) permitting employers to pay migrant workers up to 15% less and fast tracking employer applications for these workers is unfair and misguided.
  “Allowing employers faster access to migrant workers and paying them less for their labour sends a message that this government believes migrant workers are not equal,” says Hassan Yussuff, Secretary-Treasurer of the Canadian Labour Congress. He was speaking at an Ottawa news conference attended by unions and NGOs. Read More...

• DR. JOTI SAMRA, OPRAH WINFREY NETWORK TV HOST, WILL EMCEE ‘GLOW: A WOMEN’S EVENING OF CHANGE AND CELEBRATION’

  DR. Joti Samra is a woman who has it all together. Intelligent, savvy, beautiful and vivacious, the Vancouver native is making a name for herself in the field of organizational and media psychology and in North American living rooms — as host of Oprah Winfrey Network’s Million Dollar Neighbourhood, just renewed for a second season. She is also a psychological consultant for the upcoming first season of The Bachelor Canada.   Read More... .

• MP WAI YOUNG SAYS: ASIAN-CANADIANS WILL CONTINUE TO CONTRIBUTE TO CANADA

  ON the occasion of Asian Heritage Month, Wai Young, MP for Vancouver South, this week said: “With over 3 million immigrants of Asian origin in Canada today, people of Asian descent have made extensive contributions to the growth and development of our country.  We have, and we continue to play important roles in our society.  I am confident Asian-Canadians will continue to contribute to Canada as we grow and move forward in the 21st century.”Read More... ...

• CELEBRATING 2012 SOUTH ASIAN HERITAGE MONTH IN ONTARIO

  BRANCH Rickey once said, “It is not the honor that you take with you, but the heritage you leave behind.” Branch was born in Stockdale, Ohio, on December 20, 1881, and died in Columbia, Missouri, on December 9, 1965. Rickey was an MLB executive elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame during his time. I believe that this quote goes well with this article discussing South Asian Heritage Month. In this brief article, you will learn how the importance of learning your culture’s heritage increases the amount of diversity around you, Read More...

COMMUNITY AND NEWS IN PHOTOS

ETOBICOKE CENTRE ELECTION OVERTURNED BY ONTARIO SUPERIOR COURT

JASON KENNEY SAYS PARENT AND GRANDPARENT SUPER VISA GREAT SUCCESS

FEARS THAT INSANE KILLER SHAM AHLUWALIA MAY GET DAY PASSES

LAWYER WANTS CHARGES AGAINST SURREY RCMP CONSTABLE SAEED STAYED

PAKISTANI CONSULATE GENERAL FORMS TEAM FOR WORLD PARTNERSHIP WALK

AMANPREET KAUR BAHIA MURDER CASE UPDATE

JUSTIN DEREK RAO GUILTY OF SEXUAL ASSAULT IN 2008 BURNABY HOME INVASION

BIGAMY CHARGES AGAINST JOTIKA ASHNI REDDY STAYED

FOUR MORE SOUTH ASIANS JOIN ONTARIO’S PEEL POLICE

FOUR SCHOOL-AGED SOUTH ASIAN MALES SUSPECTED IN DELTA ROBBERY

CHANGE IN NEXUS HOURS

READ MORE...

• DEALING WITH HAY FEVER
  HAY fever, also known as allergic rhinitis, is a common condition that shows signs and symptoms similar to a cold with sneezing, congestion, runny nose and sinus pressures. Hay fever is caused by an allergic response to airborne substances, such as pollen - unlike a cold which is caused by a virus. The time of year in which you get hay fever depends on what airborne substance you are allergic to. Despite its name, hay fever does not mean that the person is allergic to hay and has a fever. Hay is hardly ever an allergen, and hay fever does not cause fever. Read More...

....... KAMAL'S WHAT'S HAPPENING!!!

• BOLLYWOOD ATTENDS CANNES INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL!

  THE 65th CANNES INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL started with a bang as SASHA COHEN BARON premiered his long-awaited comedy THE DICTATOR by riding a camel at the festival surrounded by his beautiful female bodyguards but from the Indian perspective, this year's festival has a record number of Bollywood entries and the buzz surrounding Bollywood is generally very positive. ASHIM AHLUWALIA-directed MISS LOVELY, which features former Miss India NIHARIKA SINGH, is one of India's entries this year and while ANURAAG KASHYAP'S five-hour marathon GANGS OF WASSEYPUR (in two parts), starring MANOJ BAJPAYEE and SHAHABUDDIN, will be screened at Director's Read More...

• ODD JOB!

  GETTING work is hard no matter what the era.  Right after World War 2 a soldier finds himself immersed in a downward style in the new EOne drama Edwin Boyd.  Based on a true story this Canadian journey is now unfolding at the International Village Cinemas. Going to the movies can teach you something about history. In the case of Edwin Boyd we bear witness to Mr. Boyd, a handsome ex-soldier just trying to make his way in the world after the Second Great War. Scott Speedman does a fine job portraying this troubled lost soul.   Read More...

• PROVINCE’S GOAL IS TO INCREASE OVERALL INTERNATIONAL STUDENT COUNT BY 50 PER CENT OVER FOUR YEARS

  INTERNATIONAL education is a shared priority for both B.C. and Canada. In fact, a key part of B.C.’s Jobs Plan is to support the two-way mobility of students—international students coming to B.C. and B.C. students embarking on study experiences abroad. Recent criticism suggests that the federal government’s decision to streamline and modernize the processing of visas will make it difficult for international students to come to Canada. Read More... 

• FULL PATCH MEMBER OF HELL’S ANGELS FACES DRUG CHARGES

  A full patch member of the Hell’s Angels was arrested on Wednesday after Abbotsford Police Department’s Drug Enforcement Unit executed a search warrant in the 27000 block of 28 A Avenue in Aldergrove along with the Abbotsford Police Department’s Gang Suppression Unit, the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit’s Outlaw Motorcycle Gang Unit and the Lower Mainland Emergency Response Team. Read More... .....

• BHAVDEEP DEOL AND HERMAN SIDHU OF ABBOTSFORD PLEAD GUILTY IN AUGUST 2012 ASSAULT CASE

  BHAVDEEP Deol, 23, and Herman Sidhu, 22, of Abbotsford have pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily harm in an August 2010 case in which the two along with Gurprait Gill of Abbotsford were originally charged with aggravated assault in November 2010. Gill, 33, pleaded guilty in the stabbing case in May 2011 and received a four-year sentence. Deol and Sidhu will be back in Abbotsford provincial court on May 30 for pre-sentence reports. Read More...

• TWO NEW CHARGES LAID IN RCMP FEDERAL MV SUN SEA INVESTIGATION

  KUNAROBINSON Christhurajah and Lesly Jana Emmanuel were both charged on Monday with one count of organizing entry into Canada under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) for their involvement with the MV Sun Sea, a migrant vessel that brought 492 illegal immigrants to Canada in August 2010. These charges follow a similar charge against Thayakaran Markandu announced earlier this year. Unlike Markandu, however, Christhurajah and Emmanuel are currently in British Columbia, and have been arrested by RCMP federal investigators. Read More... ................................................................................... ......................................

• RONAK WAGAD HOMICIDE CASE: NAJAFI-CHAGHABOURI GUILTY OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER, LESLIE GUILTY OF SECOND-DEGREE MURDER

  B.C. Supreme Court Justice Barry M. Davies last week found Charles Anthony Leslie of Surrey and Babak Najafi-Chaghabouri of North Vancouver guilty in the February 2009 murder of Ronak “Ronny” Wagad, a South Asian. Davies ruled that while Najafi-Chaghabouri was guilty of first degree murder, Leslie was guilty of second degree murder in the death of Wagad. Davies said that while “the Crown has proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Najafi-Chaghabouri is guilty of that offence because Najafi-Chaghabouri’s intentional actions in striking Wagad Read More...

• POLICE APPEAL FOR PUBLIC’S HELP IN MURDER OF SELVIN KRISHNA OF MAPLE RIDGE

  THE Integrated Homicide Investigation Team on Monday identified the victim of Maple Ridge's latest homicide on Mother's Day as 36-year-old Selvin Krishna of Maple Ridge, who was known to police.
  "We continue to encourage anyone with information relating to this homicide to contact police," said IHIT Corporal Adam MacIntosh.Read More...

• RCMP FOCUS ON MAKING RECREATION AREAS SAFE AND ENJOYABLE FAMILY DESTINATIONS FOR ALL

  EVERY summer the Upper Fraser Valley experiences a major influx of tourists who come to the area to enjoy the beauty and recreation offered by the surrounding lakes and park areas.  With the onset of warmer weather, and the May long weekend, the Upper Fraser Valley RCMP, in conjunction with their many partners, say they will be focusing on making the recreation areas safe and enjoyable family destinations for all. Read More...

• NDP URGES QUICK ACTION ON CORONER’S JURY RECOMMENDATIONS ON FARMWORKER DEATHS

• NEW DEMOCRATS QUESTION CUTS TO TRANSLINK’S TAXISAVER PROGRAM

• HEAD OUT TO A BC PARKS FOR THE LONG WEEKEND......................................................... .............................................. .............................. .......................
• THIS WEEK AN OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF TOURISM .................................... .......... ..................................... .................................................
• LEGISLATION DELIVERS ON PROMISE TO RETURN TO PST .................................................... ........................................
• LIBERALS FINALLY INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO REPEAL HST MONTHS AFTER REFERENDUM RESULTS: NDP........................................................... .............. .......................
• NEW PST MEASURES WILL MAKE PST EASIER TO NAVIGATE FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS.......................... ........................................................................... ...........................
• PREMIER CHRISTY CLARK APPLAUDS PROGRESS ON KITIMAT PROJECT: LNG CANADA........................................... ........................................................................ .....................
• ICBC ANNOUNCES PUBLIC CONSULTATION AND ENGAGEMENT.................. ..... ............................ .................................................................. ..................... ............................ ..........
• B.C. SEIZING ON GLOBAL DEMAND FOR MINING... .................... ............... ........ .................................
• CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENT CREATING UNCERTAINTY FOR THE SEASONALLY EMPLOYED, SAY FEDERAL LIBERALS ........................................................ ....................................................... ............................. ....................................
• EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CHANGES WILL DRIVE DOWN WAGES FOR EVERYONE, SAYS LABOUR BOSS....................................................... ........ ........................ ................. .........................
• LOWER MAINLAND GAS TAX NOW A BILLION DOLLAR GOUGE, SAYS CANADIAN TAXPAYERS FEDERATION............................................................... .... ....................... .........................
• NDP VOTES AGAINST LIBERALS’ LATEST ELECTION ‘GAG LAW’................................... .......................................................... ...............................
• BCGEU MEMBERS VOTE FOR JOB ACTION............................................................................ ............................. ..........................
• ASIA PACIFIC FOUNDATION OF CANADA APF CANADA PUBLISHES REPORT ON CHINA'S COMPETITION FOR GLOBAL TALENTS............................. ...............................................................
• CANADA AND U.S. NEED TO PURSUE ASIA-PACIFIC MARKETS TOGETHER, SAYS ED FAST. .............................................. ............................................... .............. . .............................
• PARENTS ARE HAPPIER THAN NON-PARENTS, NEW RESEARCH SUGGESTS .......... .......................
• LOCAL GOVERNMENTS SHOULD ALSO TURN THEIR MINDS TOWARD CUTTING COSTS, SAYS IDA CHONG .............................................. .................................... .........................................
• B.C. HYDRO LOSING $180 MILLION TO PRIVATE POWER CONTRACTS THIS SPRING ... ...............
• VIVA VANCOUVER TRANSFORMS CITY STREETS INTO VIBRANT SUMMER SPACES ................................... ............... .....................
• HOME SALES DOWN IN LOWER MAINLAND, BUT SURGE IN INTERIOR AND NORTH ....................................... .........................................
• DINOSAURS ROAM AT THE ROYAL BC MUSEUM ...................................... ..................................
• FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INCREASES SUPPORT FOR PART-TIME STUDENTS................. ...............
• OVER HALF A MILLION RAISED IN 2012 DRY GRAD CAMPAIGN LF A MILLION RAISED IN 2012 DRY GRAD CAMPAIGN............ ..................