Disappeared in the Amazon: what is already known about the case

Last Sunday (5), the indigenist Bruno Araújo Pereira and the English journalist Dom Phillips, correspondent of the newspaper “The Guardian”, were reported as missing in Vale do Javari, in Amazonas. So far, little progress has been made in clarifying the case. Five people who had contact with the disappeared were questioned by the Civil Police and then released, four as witnesses and one as a suspect.

According to the Union of Indigenous Organizations of Vale do Javari (Univaja), Phillips was going to a place called Lago do Jaburu to interview indigenous people, accompanied by the Brazilian.

A note released by Univaja, also signed by other associations representing indigenous peoples, reported that the pair disappeared on the way from the Ribeirinha São Rafael community to the city of Atalaia do Norte (AM).

According to the entities, the indigenist is the target of threats from loggers and prospectors who try to invade indigenous lands in the region. Bruno Pereira is regarded as an experienced and in-depth knowledge of the region, as he was regional coordinator of the National Indian Foundation (Funai) of Atalaia do Norte for years.

“The two disappeared were traveling with a new boat, 40 HP, with 70 liters of gasoline, enough for the trip, and seven empty drums of fuel. We emphasize that in the week of the disappearance, as reported by Univaja employees, the team received threats in the field. The threat was not the first: others were already being made to other members of Univaja’s technical team, in addition to other reports already made official to the Federal Police, Federal Public Ministry in Tabatinga, the National Human Rights Council and Indigenous Peoples Rights International. ”, said the association.

Teams from Funai, the National Force and the Federal Police are involved in the search for the missing, although Univaja demanded, this Tuesday (7th), to speed up the investigation.

“With the exception of six military police officers and a team from Funai, who started the search yesterday [segunda, dia 6] together with the Univaja team, the information about the search scenario reveals the omission of Organs federal protection and security agencies, as well as the Armed Forces”, says the note released on Tuesday by the group.

Investigation

The Secretary of Public Security of Amazonas (SSP-AM) informed, on Tuesday night, that it is continuing with the investigations into the disappearance of the indigenist and the journalist.

According to the delegate of the 50th Interactive Police Station (DIP), Alex Perez, a police investigation was launched and, until Tuesday night, five people had been heard, four as witnesses and another as a suspect.

“SSP-AM reinforces that, so far, there is still no confirmation of people arrested for involvement in the case.”

search operation

Funai reported on Tuesday that 15 officials from the agency and the National Public Security Force are in the region to search for information and clues about the missing.

There are four vessels traveling in the area, one departing from the Ethnoenvironmental Protection Base (Bape) Itui-Itaquaí, two departing from Atalaia do Norte and one vessel departing from Bape Quixito to travel along the Quixito River, reinforcing the work in the search areas. .

In a statement, the Federal Police informs that, in support of the search team, “another aircraft was sent with federal police and members of the army to the region between the itui-itauqai ethno-environmental protection front and the municipality of Atalaia do Norte (AM) , northwest region of Amazonas”.

The Amazon Military Command (CMA) stated that it has carried out emergency and humanitarian actions in the search for the pair.

“The 16th Jungle Infantry Brigade has been conducting Search and Rescue operations with approximately 150 military specialists in operations in the jungle environment who know the terrain where the searches are carried out. The 4th Army Aviation Battalion (4th BAvEx) will add to this effort the airmobile capacity, supporting the deployment of Federal Police agents and adding mobility to the interagency teams in the area of ​​operations by means of a helicopter.”

Read the note from Itamaraty about the disappearance below

“Disappearance of indigenist Bruno Pereira and British journalist Dom Phillips in the Amazon

The Brazilian Government became aware, with great concern, of the news that British journalist Dom Phillips and indigenist Bruno Pereira are missing in the Vale do Javari region, in the Amazon.

Mobilized from the outset, the Federal Police Department (PF) is working in that region and taking all measures to locate them as quickly as possible. The PF has made repeated incursions and has had the support of the Brazilian Navy, which has joined efforts in the search efforts of both citizens.

The Brazilian Government will continue to monitor the search with the zeal that the case demands and will make the necessary efforts to promptly find the British press professional and the employee of the National Indian Foundation.

In the event that the disappearance was caused by criminal activity, all measures will be taken to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Family members and co-workers of the missing will be kept abreast of the progress of the search.”

Federal Police Note

“The Federal Police informs that since it became aware of the disappearance of the indigenist Bruno Araújo Pereira, from the National Indian Foundation (Funai), and of the English journalist Dom Phillips, a contributor to the newspaper The Guardian, it has been carrying out investigative and police intelligence measures aimed at clarification of the facts and the resolution of the case.

On yesterday’s date, 06/06/2022, with the support of the Navy, incursions were carried out in the Itaquaí River channel, more precisely in the stretch between the itui-itauqai ethno-environmental protection front and the municipality of Atalaia do Norte/AM, northwest region of the Amazon.

From the investigations carried out, it was possible to identify 02 (two) people who had contact with the disappeared, who were sent to the Civil Police of Atalaia do Norte to provide clarification. However, none of them were arrested.

Early this morning, 07/06/2022, the search was resumed by the Navy and the Federal Police, with new incursions into the river and with the support of a helicopter flying over the region.

As the case evolves, new information will be released.

*With information from Vianey Bentes, André Rosa and Carolina Farias