LIBERIA: ‘J. Nelson Freeman did not open fire on Cdcians’ – says Nov. 7 Investigative Report

A report of the review of the Special Independent Commission of Inquiry Report on the November 7, 2011 violence in and around the vicinity of the Congress for Democratic Change(CDC)Headquarters has established that the Liberia National Police(LNP)Deputy Commissioner, J. Nelson Freeman on November 7, 2011 did enter the CDC Compound during the rioting and had an altercation with UNMIL officers, who tried to disarm him.

According to the report, DCP Freeman discharged his service weapon in an attempt to resist disarmament by the UNMIL officers.

When questioned further as to why he discharged his weapon, DCP Freeman indicated that he was constrained to fire because he was afraid his disarmament would expose him to greater danger while in the compound of the CDC Headquarters.
Therefore, the Panel concluded that officer Freeman’s discharge of his firearm was in violation of LNP Firearm Policy, but said action can not be construed as criminal in that his weapon was not targeted at civilians or UNMIL personnel but was directed to the ground, and no one got injured as a result.

The report was submitted to the then Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Liberia Cllr. Christiana P. Tah by Chairman Victor E. Helb on August 10, 2022.
The finding of the report runs contrary to claim by the CDC that DC Freeman, who was recently nominated by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai as Deputy Inspector General for Operations of the LNP, allegedly carried out human rights violation during the incident.
It can be recalled that recently, the CDC issued a stern warning to the Liberian Senate not to confirm Mr. Freeman as Deputy Inspector General for Operations of the LNP.
The CDC expressed deep concern over President Boakai’s decision to nominate individual with such troubling past, citing his history of violence and disregard for human rights as significant obstacles to Liberia’s progress.
The CDC has called upon President Boakai to reconsider his nomination and urged the Liberian Senate to reject him should the President persist in his decision.