VOA慢速英语--青少年黑社会团伙恐吓阿比让居民

AS IT IS 2016-05-23 Youth Gang Members Terrorize Abidjan Neighborhoods 青少年黑社会团伙恐吓阿比让居民

People in Ivory Coast’s largest city have tired of youth gang members who have terrorized parts of Abidjan.

Abidjan residents say the young men and boys – some as young as 10 years old – have been linked to attacks, robberies and even murders.

The residents call these youth gangs “microbes,” the French word for germs.

“They are very dangerous elements,” said one woman about the groups, adding that they usually control local streets at night. A few days ago, she said, they attacked an internet cafe.

The gangs started in a crowded, poor neighborhood of Abidjan called Abobo. It is not known exactly how many microbes there are, but the best estimate is several hundred.

One man said that even when people catch gang members doing criminal acts and turn them over to police, they are seen back on the streets days later. Police do organize raids and arrest the microbes, but many get released quickly because they are so young.

“There is no follow-up, no justice,” the man said. “So next time we won’t take him to authorities, he will be lynched, and that’s all,” the man added.

Last month, angry residents killed a 19-year-old gang chief in the street. That attack fueled revenge attacks on citizens.

Some residents have set up their own self-defense groups to deal with the problem.

A man named Issa leads one of those groups. He said gang members are attacking mothers and parents in the neighborhood in “very violent” ways. He added that police had only a single car patrolling the neighborhood and this is not enough to protect residents. He compared the situation to being trapped with lions and not being able to defend yourself.

Some resident groups arm themselves with sticks and long knives while guarding the streets at night. But Issa said carrying defensive¹ weapons did not stop the violence so they have now turned to a different method.

“We told ourselves we should try to establish trust between us and these kids,” he said. Residents are now trying to listen to gang members and try to understand what causes them to turn to crime.

Most of the gang members still have parents, but they mainly live away from them on the streets. One young man said he has nothing to eat at home because no one in his family has a job. “I had to take care of myself,” he said.

The government is trying to reach out to gang members. The government also has a program to protect vulnerable children. Leontine Zagba heads the program through Ivory Coast’s Ministry² of Women, Family and Child Protection.

“When you have no self-esteem, you have nothing to lose and will do anything,” she said. The government is trying to help some gang members get their self-esteem back.

A test project last year sent about 70 teenagers to a rehabilitation³ center to learn work-related skills like mechanics, woodworking and sewing. But many former microbes still have trouble when they try to get a job.

Words in This Story

gang – n. an organized group of criminals

germ – n. a microorganism that causes disease

patrol – v. top keep watch over an area by regularly walking or traveling through it

machete – n. a broad heavy knife often used as a weapon

vulnerable – adj. easily hurt or harmed physically⁴, mentally or emotionally

self-esteem – n. confidence in one’s own worth or abilities

resident – n. a person who lives somewhere permanently⁵

lynch – v. to kill someone for an alleged⁶ offense⁷ with or without a legal trial

kid – n. the informal term for a child or young person

teenager – n. a person aged 13 to 19

1 defensive   

adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的

参考例句：

• Their questions about the money put her on the defensive.他们问到钱的问题，使她警觉起来。
• The Government hastily organized defensive measures against the raids.政府急忙布置了防卫措施抵御空袭。

2 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

3 rehabilitation   

n.康复，悔过自新，修复，复兴，复职，复位

参考例句：

• He's booked himself into a rehabilitation clinic.他自己联系了一家康复诊所。
• No one can really make me rehabilitation of injuries.已经没有人可以真正令我的伤康复了。

4 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。

5 permanently   

adv.永恒地，永久地，固定不变地

参考例句：

• The accident left him permanently scarred.那次事故给他留下了永久的伤疤。
• The ship is now permanently moored on the Thames in London.该船现在永久地停泊在伦敦泰晤士河边。

6 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

7 offense   

n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪

参考例句：

• I hope you will not take any offense at my words. 对我讲的话请别见怪。
• His words gave great offense to everybody present.他的发言冲犯了在场的所有人。