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HEADLINE: VOTING TO END THE UNREST
BYLINE: Karen Bair
DATE: 18 November 2005
SOURCE: The Herald Copyright 2005
 If
people cannot read, have never held a pen, have no electricity and
no computers, how can they vote?
In Liberia, they place their fingerprint next to a photo of the
candidate of their choice.
Frank Ardaiolo, Winthrop University vice president for student life,
returned last week to the home of his youth, Liberia, as an official
observer of elections in a land that has known only corruption,
brutality and civil war for at least 14 years. It was a presidential
runoff in a nation controlled by U.N. peacekeeping forces and an
interim government since 2003.
Based on his observations, "It was fair and transparent for people
going to the polls for only the second time in their life," he said.
"It was democracy in its basic reincarnation."
"I was taken by the fervor of the people before the election," he
added. "The problems of Liberia are almost insurmountable. How can
you bring prosperity to a country with no electricity?"
Government, international and United Nations military kept guard at
polls. Identification cards were checked against pictures in the
voters roster, their name was marked out, they were given a ballot
and their finger was inked. They voted behind a cardboard booth,
folded the ballot and placed it in a Tupperware container.
 Before
they left, a fingernail was marked with indelible ink to prevent
re-entry.
International observers, party representatives and election
commission members watched the counting. The ballots were sealed and
sent off under guard.
"It was remarkably rigorous," Ardaiolo said.
'Iron Lady' prevails
Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, 67, a Liberian mother of four with a Harvard
University master's degree in economics, captured about 59 percent
of the votes. Known as the "Iron Lady," she is a former financial
minister to the World Bank and the United Nations and was imprisoned
after a government coup.
Her opponent, Liberian soccer star George Weah, garnered about 40
percent and lodged fraud claims when results were announced. That
prompted demonstrations and riots, one which Ardaiolo almost became
swept up in. His bus was escorted to the airport by military in full
battle gear. The interim government has since barred demonstrations.
Weah's allegations are being heard, but international observers
endorsed the election. The results are to be certified Wednesday.
"I believe this is the first election in Liberia in which the
results will be certified after all the votes are counted," Ardaiolo
said.
The Liberian connection
Liberia was settled by freed blacks and freed slaves from America,
some from York County, on Africa's west coast and became an
independent democratic nation in 1847.
Ardaiolo's father operated an airport for Pan American Airways there
in the 1960s when the Ardaiolo w as
ages 12 to 20. That experience helped form his personal philosophy.
Now 57, Ardaiolo went on to earn a doctorate in higher education,
political science and African studies.
He returned in 1998 as an educational training program evaluator and
found child soldiers carrying guns. There were no seats or materials
in schools. Disease and suffering were widespread.
Ardaiolo became a leader for Friends of Liberia, an organization
that promotes education and human rights, among other issues.
Last week, he visited his former neighborhood.
"I walked the streets of my youth," he said. "It was extraordinarily
bittersweet."
He dusted off his Liberian English, which resembles the Gullah of
slave descendants on South Carolina's sea islands. He also exercised
the Liberian handshake, one that concludes with a snap of the middle
and index fingers.
He introduced himself, saying he had lived there as a child.
Sometimes he discovered they had mutual acquaintances, and he is
trying to help some get back in touch.
"Life is so much more real there," Ardaiolo said. "We get upset
because we're stuck in traffic or the dinner served is not what we
expected. There, they may not get dinner."
A changing country
 Liberia
has changed since 1998. People have cell phones, and there are
restaurants in Monrovia, the capital. Firestone had returned.
He sees the election as pivotal. Liberia is fertile for terrorism,
and some corrupt leaders have been linked to al-Qaida money
laundering.
Last week, boy soldiers ran on the beach in units. The nation is
supposed to have disarmed, but some fear weapons are buried. "On the
Ivory Coast, they are trying to buy soldier boys at $400 a pop," he
said.
He has high hopes for Johnson-Sirleaf, who "cobbled a coalition
among losers" from a primary of 22 candidates.
He met with Liberian university leaders in hopes of establishing
ties that can help the country rebuild its schools. He hopes that
Liberia will become a peaceful land where Winthrop and Liberians can
have a student exchange.
"I am extraordinarily hopeful," he said.
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