The searches for journalist Dom Phillips and indigenist Bruno Araújo advance this Wednesday (15). Information gathered by CNN with sources connected to the investigation point out that a key witness told the Federal Police that the duo was murdered.
During the testimony this morning, the same witness described to the police the place where the bodies would have been left.
In an interview with CNN the executive secretary of the Indigenous Missionary Council (Cimi), Antônio Eduardo Cerqueira de Oliveira, stated that crime in the region puts the lives of indigenous peoples and the local population at risk.
“In this territory there are many rivers, with a very large diversity of fish and several species, including ornamental ones, which are very expensive all over the world. Therefore, there is an illegal fishing industry that has been established in that region and, unfortunately, it has strengthened in recent years, putting the lives of the populations that live there and especially the lives of indigenous peoples at risk,” he said.
According to the secretary, illegal loggers and miners also work in the region. “This situation of illegality and, at the same time of impunity, was established in the region, mainly in relation to the lack of protection for the populations that live there in that region and, at the same time, of depredation of the environment, of the natural resources of that region”, he said. .
The Indigenous Missionary Council (Cimi) has an installed base in the city of Atalaia do Norte, which operates based on the demand of indigenous peoples.
“Our support for the struggle of indigenous peoples and the protection of these indigenous territories in the region is done in agreement with the indigenous peoples. They define the way we act and, at the same time, what we should do. They bring us claims and complaints and we join together with other bodies in order to enforce their constitutional rights”, explained the secretary.
Oliveira highlighted the importance of the work of public agencies in the region, such as the Federal Police, the National Indian Foundation (Funai), the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio) and the Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources ( Ibama).
In the secretary’s assessment, there is a need to reinforce the institutions’ investment.
“It has to have a better structure, it has to receive more support from the government in terms of financial resources, human resources and structure. Therefore, these bodies need to be properly structured and better prepared to work in that region,” he said.
Source: CNN Brasil
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