Confessions of a Perth gang member

by N. Rahimi Razmi

May 12, 2008

MODERN infrastructure surrounding the sprawling urban landscape, streets that seem safe from crime, courteous people of different races, creeds and religions, that is a popular view of cosmopolitan Perth.

On the surface, things seem to be calm. However, beneath the pleasant, somewhat sterile, surface lies an evil that unknown and unseen by most people.

College students by day, and ruthless fighters by night, members of a gang called Genuine Soldiers start patrolling Perth’s outer northern suburbs at dusk.

One 19-year-old member, Tom (not his real name), says such nights comparable to living in The Bronx. Armed with home-made machetes and bats, these street gangs will stop at nothing to emerge victorious during street clashes.

“The only way to be respected in a gang is when you prove yourself to be merciless and brave during every fight,” Tom said.

Tom has been with Genuine Soldiers for about four years now. The reason he joined the group was because of the protection and a sense of belonging it offered.

Coming from a Pacific Island background, he recalled an incident in school where he was racially abused. He said that he is now unafraid of standing up to anyone who degrades his identity.

“I know that I can count on my boys in any situation, especially when it comes to physical confrontation,” he said.

Tom related an incident where he and members of the gang actually smashed a car of a rival group who had abused him in a party.

“I wanted to blow up his car, but eventually was satisfied when we managed to smash his car and popped his tyres beyond recognition.”

According to Tom, gang rapes, orgies, smoking joints, fighting and stealing are common practices.

Most fights are initiated at ‘blue parties’, where strippers are hired to entertain members of the group. Alcohol and drugs are also available. Each member has to kick in $40 to get through the door.

Gangs going by names like Neverending Creeps (The NEC), Singwa, Embrors and Spiderboys are among those whose presence are recognised by students in suburbs like Kiara, Beechboro, Morley and Ellenbrook.

Since joining the Genuine Soldiers, Tom has never walked out of home without the fear of being beaten by a rival gang member. If  he slaps a fighter from the rival gang on today, he’ll wake up tomorrow with a vendetta pencilled beside his name.

Tom’s brother, Ash, 21 (surname withheld) has always warned him about the repercussions of getting into fights.

“An eye for an eye only makes the world go blind,” Ash said. “Gang clashes bring nothing but bloodshed and regrets.”