Dom Phillips and Bruno Araújo disappeared on June 5 in the Valle del Yavarí region, and two bodies were found in the area last Monday. Now the Brazilian federal police are investigating several people after the confession of two main suspects.
Euskaraz irakurri: Amazonasen desagertutako kazetari bateen eta indigenista bateen erailketa ikertzen ari da Brasil
The Brazilian Federal Police have reported that five people are under investigation for: the disappearance of journalist Dom Phillips and Brazilian indigenista Bruno Araújo, disappeared in the Amazon on June 5. The investigation was launched after the confession of the two main suspects of taking part in his murder in the Valle del Yavarí region.
Three people who “directly” participated in the murder are under investigation, while there is another alleged suspect, who is said to be hiding the remains, and finally a fifth, who is said to be the alleged mastermind.
Federal Police found two bodies in the area this wednesdayknown as one of the most inaccessible in the region, with not only the greatest concentration of uncontacted indigenous peoples, but also the scene of one of the largest circulation routes for cocaine arriving from Peru, en route to Europe, and other raw materials, such as illegally extracted timber and gold.
The plane with the remains will arrive in Brasilia this Thursday and the bodies will be sent to the National Institute of Criminalistics, where experts will try to determine whether the bodies belong to the missing native and journalist, and what the cause of death is.
Amarildo da Costa Oliveira, aka ‘Pelado’, confirmed to the federal police the place where he had buried the bodiesin addition to hiding the boat in which they traveled, for which the Brazilian security forces made a reconstruction of the route.
A key witness stated that he saw ‘Pelado’ loading a shotgun and making an ammunition belt shortly after Phillips and Araújo left the community of Sao Rafael for Atalaia do Norte, the morning they were last seen.
‘Pelado’ is known in Brazil for its background in threats and coercion against indigenous peoples The case of the disappearance of the journalist and the native continued since last june 5when they were last seen in the community of Sao Rafael, in the indigenous lands of the Yavarí Valley.
UN response
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has expressed grief over the “horrific” death of the journalist and indigenous people.
In addition to condemning these deaths, the body’s spokesperson, Ravina Shamdasani, lamented that “attacks and threats” against human rights defenders and indigenous peoples “persistent” in the South American nation.
That is why the organization has called on the Brazilian authorities to: “increase your efforts” when it comes to protecting activists from all forms of “violence and discrimination” by both state and non-state actors.
For her part, the UN rapporteur on freedom of expression, Irene Jan, has indicated in an interview that the murder of journalists is a “symptom of the erosion” of democracy and has indicated that it is “fundamental” that the matter is investigated. .
“We know that ten journalists have been killed in the Ukraine conflict. But when we see this happening in countries like Mexico or Brazil, the death of every journalist in these circumstances is an attack on democracy,” he said.
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Source: EITB
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
