Brazil Navy aids search for missing indigenous expert, journalist
Brazil’s Foreign Ministry said today (Jun 7) that the government is monitoring the search for indigenous expert Bruno Pereira and British journalist Dom Phillips in the Amazon. Both have been missing since last Sunday (5).
In a statement, the ministry says the Federal Police are working in the region, “taking all measures to locate them as quickly as possible.” The Federal Police have made repeated raids, aided by the Brazilian Navy,” the note goes on to read.
“The Brazilian government will continue to follow the search with the zeal required by the circumstances and will make the necessary efforts to promptly find the British press professional and the employee of [Brazil’s indigenous foundation] FUNAI. In the event that the disappearance has been caused by criminal activity, all steps will be taken to bring perpetrators to justice,” the statement adds.
Also in a note, the Federal Police reported they have been carrying out probes and intelligence measures to cast light on the facts and solve the case.
The text adds that they have made incursions along the Itaquaí river—more precisely between the Itui-Itauqai ethnic and environmental protection area and the municipality of Atalaia do Norte.
“Thanks to the investigations we could identify two people who had contact with the missing persons, who were referred to the Civil Police of Atalaia do Norte to provide clarifications,” the Federal Police stated, adding no one has been arrested thus far.
The search was resumed with the support of the Navy, with plans for new incursions along the river, aided by a helicopter.
Yesterday (6), FUNAI stated it is keeping track of the progress of initiatives and is in contact with the security forces operating in the region in order to collaborate with the searches. In a statement, the institution remarked that, although indigenous expert Bruno da Cunha Araújo Pereira is a member of FUNAI’s staff, he was not in the region on an institutional mission, as he was on leave to attend to private interests.
Response
A spokesman for British daily The Guardian expressed concern and said it is in contact with the Brazilian and UK embassies, seeking further information about Phillips’s whereabouts and condition.
Human Rights Watch released a statement saying it is worried about the case, arguing that Brazilian authorities must swiftly focus all available and necessary resources on the searches in order to ensure the safety of the two people missing. The note is signed by the director of the Human Rights Watch office in Brazil, Maria Laura Canineu.
