The Foundation of Human Rights and Democracy (FOHRD) is a pro-democracy and human rights organisation, which seeks to spread democratic values and principles as well as promote the protection and respect for scoial and economic rights. As a research, training and advocacy NGO FOHRD promotes economic and social justice and combats impunity as well as poverty and all its principal dimensions while at the same time striving to build result-driven linkages between human rights and other areas such as HIV/AIDS, peace-building, governance and development issues.

On September19, 2006, I heard shouts and screams near Zone 5 Depot, Precinct 3. I rushed there and saw about seven Liberian National Police Officers flogging and manhandling a civilian.

The place was crowded with bystanders, watching what was being done to this man. He seemed to be in his mid-thirties. Immediately upon arriving on the scene, I began monitoring and so as to provide evidence; I photographed what was occurring.

It was about 18:45hrs, as they (Police Officers) saw the flash from the camera. They began searching for who had a camera and had taken a photograph of them. Besides, those manhandling the civilian, there were several Liberia National Police Officers standing around. It was one of them who saw the camera in my hand and attacked me.

He then informed the other police officers and four of them surrounded me. They then began to hurl insults at me, flogged and brutalised me. Furthermore, they forcefully took the camera which was tied around my hand. I tried to resist but they outnumbered me and continued to inflict pains on me.

Later, I filed a complaint through my office to the Liberian National Police authority, and the Ministry of Justice. Even with this formal complaint, there was no response or whatever from the government. After it was reported by the media, their first response was a denial.

However, after some investigation by the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) Noncompliance unit which investigates misconduct of police officers and submits findings to the Liberia National Police Authority, the Police Authority has not taken action. In fact, I identified one of the perpetrators during this investigation but no action has been taken.

The dangerous part of this is that I live very close to this depot and this police man who was among those that brutalised me is assigned to the same depot.

I was informed three months ago that he was making threatening remarks against my younger brother. So besides me being exposed, other family members are now also exposed.