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The Times Advocate, 2005-01-12, Page 31i hi hi hi hi H hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hi hJ hi Wednesday, January 12, 2005 Exeter Times–Advocate 3 Knip witnesses Ukraine elections Exeter's Fred Knip, who was one of the observers monitoring the elections held recently in Ukraine. (photo/submitted) UKRAINE — December 26, the people of Ukraine went to polling stations for the third time to vote for a new president after courts in Kiev voted the previous election was fraudulent. One of the international observers monitoring the election was Exeter's Fred Knip. As a new initiative on behalf of the Canadian Government, 400 Canadians were sent to Ukraine by Canada Corps. The aim of the group is for Canadians to work together to promote good governance and institution building in developing countries and fragile states. It was the second experi- ence monitoring elections for Knip, who was in El Salvador previously wit- nessing elections there. After seeing an ad ask- ing for observers and con- sulting with his wife Aileen, Knip decided to apply and was accepted. He left Dec. 19 for a two- day training program in Ottawa before a long flight to Kiev for further train- ing. The training he and the other observers received included what to look for, election procedures and what had happened previ- ously. He then travelled to Sumy province which is close to the Russian bor- der which his observations were to take place. His partner for the mis- sion was Kathleen Weib, a retired teacher from Bonneville, Alberta and the two had the responsi- bility to observe seven polling stations. He said after decades of oppression and living under a system which encouraged informing on each other, the people don't trust anyone. But "once you break the ice with them," said Knip, they are very friendly. He said while Kiev is beautiful, half an hour outside the city is desti- tute. "No streetlights are working but it doesn't matter because there are no vehicles." They began at 6 a.m. along with their driver, interpreter and two cell phones at a polling station observing opening proce- dures and as ballots were counted, voter lists checked and absent votes documented along with mobile ballots. At the end of the day the same station was visited for closing and the voting was over at 8 p.m. Counting the ballots took four hours after which the observers followed the ballots to election head- quarters. Knip and his partner then reported back to their headquarters to hand in their reports. The province of Sumy is an agricultural area where candidate Viktor Yushchenko was born and raised. Knip said during the previous election the Viktor Yanukovich camp sent hired thugs to intimi - POLICE BRIEFS SOUTH HURON — On Jan. 3 an officer was called to Rona Cashway in Exeter over suspected fraud. The officer was told by the department man- ager that on Dec. 1 a male entered the business, obtained $853 worth of power tools and charged them to a farmer's account. Later the farmer went to the store and said the man who charged the items was a former employee. As a result of the investi- gation a 22 -year-old Blanshard Township man has been charged with fraud under $5,000. He will attend court in Exeter April 28. SOUTH HURON — On Jan. 5 shortly before 7 p.m. a citizen stopped an officer working in Grand Bend over a suspected impaired driver. The citi- zen told the officer that a vehicle had stopped on Kirkton Road in South Huron and gave a descrip- tion of the vehicle. The officer went to the location and found the vehicle, a 1994 Pontiac Sunbird, parked on the side of the road running with a male passed out over the wheel. The officer also found open alcohol in the dri- ver's possession and after a few minutes was able to awake the man. The dri- ver showed several more signs of impairment and was arrested for impaired driving and taken for BIKINI BOB'S Restaurant and Beach Club KARAOKE IDOL COMPETITION 1st 1500 2nd 1000 3rd 5500 Qualify at BIKINI BOB'S Restaurant and Beach Club Jan.13, 20 & 27 Feb,10,17&24 Main St., Grand Bend 238.2235 "We'll work for your Business" breath tests. The man blew into a breathalyzer, which indicated he was close to being four times over the legal limit. The 43 -year-old Grand Bend man has been charged with impaired driving and driving a motor vehicle with over 80 mgs. He will attend court in Exeter Feb. 24. Usborne Hibbert Mutual Fire Insurance Company Head Office Exeter, ON NOM 1S1 235-0350 • Est. 1876 Residential Farm & Commercial Properties DIRECTORS & ADJUSTERS Joe Chaffe, R.R. 5 Mitchell 3489705 Ran Feeney, R.A. 2 Dublin Larry Gardiner, R.R. 2 Staffa Jack Hodgert, R.R. 1 Kirkton Michael O'Shea, R.R. 3 Granton Morris Willows, R.R. 2 St. Pauls AGENTS 345-2360 345-2678 229-6152 225-2600 393-6548 Wayne Mayer David Moore Joseph Uniac Barb Worden Exeter Dublin Mitchell Staffa 235-1915 345-2512 348-9012 345-2777 date voters by beatings that sent voters to the hos- pital. "When the observers arrived at the polling sta- tions some very intimidat- ing men in big furry hats and dark coats were sit- ting on benches. After our interpreter questioned them we found that they were our allies and they are here to protect the people at this voting sta- tion and nothing like the last time is going to hap- pen again," said Knip. According to Knip, the country had elections before which were also fraudulent,. After protesting for a few days people shrugged their shoulders saying this is the Ukraine way.' This time, the younger people protested with the orange movement that wanted a fair election which could get rid of the old guard. Knip said cell phones allowed calls to many peo- ple resulting in a protest of one million people which shutdown the parliament and downtown Kiev. The hotel he was staying in was a two minute walk from the tented area where nightly rallies occurred. The protest caused a Ukraine court to evaluate the election and concluded that fraud impacted the results and a repeat sec- ond round of voting was announced. According to Knip, the people of Ukraine were appreciative of Canada's efforts at their election and every Canadian can be proud of the high regard Canada has in the international community. "It was a great experi- ence and I would go again tomorrow," he said. 14 ilii.: hi hi — - -MacLean's Source For Sports® in the Giving Spirit! - Beth Anstett oExeter is going skiing! She has won a trip for 2 to ski at Banff'si Sunshine Village in Alberta courtesy of Columbia Sportswear and H MacLean's Source For Sports®. Gary MacLean, of MacLean's SourceFor Sports®, called Beth to tell her the good news. "It is the first timeI have ever won anything!" exclaimed a surprised and very happywinner. She plans to take the trip with her husband Paul. Beth'sname was drawn in a nationwide contest held at Source For Sports®stores across Canada. For more information on Source For Sports®i visit their website at www.sourceforsports.comSourceforsportsi110 Main N. Exeter 235-0800 1.11 hi IA RadioShck- t�3w�e fflacLea ns J\ E 4- s He art15Td Community Credit Union Limited Where membership makes the difference CanHelp DISASTER RELIEF FOR SOUTHEAST ASIA Heartland Community Credit Union is accepting donations at all branch locations towards disaster relief for victims of the devastating tsunamis in southeast Asia. Donations of $10.00 or more will receive a charitable donation tax receipt. Funds will be channelled through the Canadian Red Cross, which will be the organization to issue the receipt. Please Give Generously. Head Office, Clinton 48 Ontario Street, Clinton Ph. (519) 482-3466 Fax (519) 482-3743 Exeter Branch 118 Main Street, Exeter, Ph. (519) 235-0640 Fax (519) 235-0261 Listowel Branch 161 Inkerman St W. Listowel Ph. (519) 291-6189 Fax (519) 291-6191