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Murder of Bruno Pereira and Dom Phillips

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On 5 June 2022, Brazilian indigenist Bruno Pereira and British journalist Dom Phillips were murdered during a boat trip through the Vale do Javari, the second-largest indigenous area in Brazil.[1][2]

Murder of Bruno Pereira and Dom Phillips
Poster seeking justice for the two men
Date5–15 June 2022 (2022-06-05 – 2022-06-15)
LocationNear Atalaia do Norte, Amazonas, Brazil
TypeDisappearance and murder
Deaths
Suspects
  • Amarildo da Costa de Oliveira
  • Oseney da Costa de Oliveira
  • Jefferson da Silva Lima
  • Rubens Villar Coelho
Accused
  • Marcelo Xavier
  • Alcir Amaral Teixeira
Charges
  • Amarildo, Oseney, Jefferson and Rubens charged with two counts of murder and corpse concealment
  • Marcelo and Alcir charged with murder and negligent corpse omission

Two men who were brothers were arrested by the Federal Police of Brazil for suspected involvement in the murders. A few days later, one of them confessed to the murders, telling the police where he had buried the bodies[3] as well as the location of the boat they used.[4] The forensics investigation concluded with the identification of the bodies on 22 June.[5] Philips' body was cremated in Niteroi in a ceremony reserved for family and close friends.[6] Pereira's body was cremated in the city of Paulista in a ceremony that included indigenous rituals.[7]

Background

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On 5 June 2022, Bruno Pereira and Dom Phillips arrived at Lago do Jaburu, a location near the National Indian Foundation Surveillance Base on the Ituí River. Phillips planned to visit the site and conduct interviews with indigenous people.[8][9][10] Two days later, they both went to the São Rafael community, where they were to hold a meeting with a local fisherman nicknamed "Churrasco." The meeting aimed to discuss joint work between riverine and indigenous people in the surveillance of the Javari Valley, a territory badly affected by invasions and criminal activities.[11][12] However, the fisherman was not there, so they talked to his wife.[8][9][10] Pereira and Phillips disappeared while traveling along the Itaguaí River, heading towards the municipality of Atalaia do Norte.[1][8][9]

Victims

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Bruno Pereira

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Bruno Pereira was born in the city of Recife, in Pernambuco, on 15 August 1980.[13] He was an indigenist and career civil servant with FUNAI,[14] and was considered one of the country's leading experts on isolated or recently-contacted indigenous people.[8][15] In 2019, he led the largest expedition to contact isolated indigenous peoples in 20 years. However, under pressure from ruralist sectors linked to the government of Jair Bolsonaro, he was dismissed from his post in October of that year by Sergio Moro's then-executive secretary at the Ministry of Justice, Luiz Pontel.[14][16][17] According to indigenous entities, Pereira was constantly threatened by gold miners and fishermen.[14][16][18]

Dom Phillips

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Dom Phillips was born in the United Kingdom and worked as a freelance journalist, contributing to the Financial Times, The Guardian, The New York Times, and The Washington Post.[19] He moved to Brazil in 2007 and lived in Salvador.[19][20] He was writing a book about the Amazon rainforest and its sustainable potential.[19]

Criminal prosecution

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Investigations

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On 5 June, the Union of Indigenous Organizations of the Javari Valley (Univaja) organized two search teams that left Atalaia do Norte and Tabatinga.[8] Without success, it released a note on its social networks denouncing the disappearance and asking for help in the search.[21] The Federal Police announced that they were investigating the event but gave no further details.[8]

On 7 June, the Military Police searched the residence of Amarildo da Costa de Oliveira, known as "Pelado," after receiving an anonymous tip about his supposed participation in the disappearances. He was arrested for possession of drugs and unauthorized possession of restricted ammunition. The police seized the suspect's speedboat, where traces of blood were found and sent for analysis.[22][23] On 12 June, the firefighters' team in Atalaia do Norte found a backpack, a laptop, and a pair of sandals near Amarildo's house.[24] The following day, Dom Phillips' family was wrongly informed by the Brazilian Embassy in the United Kingdom that the bodies had been found.[25][26]

On 15 June, Amarildo confessed his participation in the crime[3][27][28] and indicated to the authorities where he had buried the bodies as well as the place where Pereira and Phillips' boat sank.[29] The Federal Police found human remains at the indicated location and did not rule out further arrests.[3][30] The day before the confession, Amarildo's brother, Oseney da Costa de Oliveira, was arrested.[31]

On 18 June, police arrested a third suspect in the killings, Jefferson da Silva Lima.[32]

Criminal procedure

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On 21 July 2022, the Public Prosecutor's Office charged three people for the murder of Philips and Pereira and the concealment of the bodies. The accusation was filed in the Federal Court of the town of Tabatinga, in Amazonas state. According to the prosecutors, Pereira was killed with three shots, one of them in the back, while Phillips was murdered only because he accompanied Pereira at the time of the crime.[33][34]

The police have also indicted the former head of Brazil's Indigenous protection agency for their role in the murder. Despite the indictment, the name of the official has not been revealed. According to the investigation, the police claim that the officer received information that could have prevented the deaths of Pereira and Phillips.[35]

Police have now charged two more people with the murders including Ruben Dario da Silva Villar and Jânio Freitas de Souza. Villar is the alleged mastermind behind the murder and is reportedly responsible for an illegal transnational fishing network between Brazil, Colombia, and Peru.[36]

Aftermath

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The case had vast repercussions in Brazil, international media, mobilized societies, and trade associations.[37][38][39] The Federal government of Brazil has been criticized for not taking sufficient search measures[40][41][42][43] and weakening institutions designed to protect the environment.[44][45]

International press

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Press coverage that increased since the beginning of the case gained international traction.[46] The Guardian, a newspaper for which Dom Phillips had written, stated there was "growing fear about the safety of the two men, who disappeared in the forest days after receiving threats."[47] BBC News has covered what it termed Phillips' "family and friends demand[ing] answers."[48] The French newspaper Le Monde openly criticized the delay of the Federal Police and the Navy in initiating the search in the far west of the Amazon, pointing out that both only acted after media pressure and urgent intervention of the Public Defender's Office of the Union [pt].[49] The New York Times and The Washington Post drew attention to the delay in sending helicopters to scour the dense vegetation.[50]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "What is known so far about the murder of Phillips and Pereira in the AM". UOL. 16 June 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  2. ^ Ana Maria Campos; Roberto Fonseca (15 June 2022). "Suspect confesses to murder of Dom Phillips and Bruno in the Amazon". Correio Braziliense. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  3. ^ a b c "PF diz que Amarildo confessou assassinato de indigenista e jornalista no AM; 'remanescentes humanos' encontrados passarão por perícia". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). 15 June 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  4. ^ Pedroso, Rodrigo (20 June 2022). "Authorities find boat of slain British journalist and indigenous expert in Brazilian Amazon". CNN. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  5. ^ "Perícia em corpos de Bruno e Dom é concluída, diz PF". Agência Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). 23 June 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  6. ^ "Corpo de Dom Philips é levado para cremação em Niterói". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). 26 June 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  7. ^ "Bruno Pereira é cremado em cerimônia marcada por forte emoção e orações e rituais indígenas no Grande Recife, veja vídeo". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). 24 June 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  8. ^ a b c d e f "PF apura desaparecimento de indigenista e-jornalista-na-amazonia". Agência Brasil. 6 June 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  9. ^ a b c Ana Luiza Albuquerque (9 June 2022). "Understand what is known about disappearance of indigenist and journalist in AM". Folha de S. Paulo. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  10. ^ a b "Indigenist and English journalist are missing in Amazonas, says organisation". CNN Brazil. 6 June 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  11. ^ Gabriel Dias (8 June 2022). "Massacre, sexual abuse, invasion and more: The history of violence in Javari". UOL. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  12. ^ Carolina Dantas (6 June 2022). "Vale do Javari: country's 2nd largest indigenous land has history of murder of Funai agent and is the scene of typical Amazonian conflicts". G1. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  13. ^ "Bruno Pereira receives tribute for trajectory of defence of indigenous peoples; 'committed to important causes', says UFPE rector". G1. 16 June 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  14. ^ a b c "Know who is Bruno Pereira, indigenist and Funai servant reported missing in Amazonas". G1. 6 June 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  15. ^ Leandro Prazeres (13 June 2022). "Trained in the jungle, Bruno Pereira overcame mistrust and gained respect from indigenous people". BBC. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  16. ^ a b Ana Luiza Albuquerque; João Gabriel (8 June 2022). "Indigenista Bruno Pereira accumulates years of experience and threats in Amazonia". Folha de S. Paulo. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  17. ^ "Missing indigenist asked for leave from Funai after being exonerated by sub de Moro". UOL. 8 June 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  18. ^ Daniel Biasetto (6 June 2022). "Bill threatening Funai indigenist came from fishermen; see". O Globo. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  19. ^ a b c "Dom Phillips: Know who is the British journalist reported missing in Amazon". G1. 6 June 2022. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  20. ^ Augusto, Otávio (16 June 2022). "PF begins transferring the bodies of Dom and Bruno to Brasília". Metrópoles. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  21. ^ "Associação afirma que indigenista e jornalista inglês estão desaparecidos na Amazônia". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). 6 June 2022. Archived from the original on 9 June 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  22. ^ "Suspeito de envolvimento em desaparecimento de Dom Phillips e Bruno Pereira é preso no AM". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). 8 June 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  23. ^ "Quem é 'Pelado', único suspeito de envolvimento no desaparecimento de Dom e Bruno". Yahoo! (in Brazilian Portuguese). 13 June 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  24. ^ "Bombeiros encontram mochila, notebook e sandálias em área de busca por indigenista e jornalista inglês no AM". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). 12 June 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  25. ^ Trigueiro, André (13 June 2022). "Mulher de Dom Phillips diz que corpos do jornalista e do indigenista Bruno Pereira foram encontrados; PF nega". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  26. ^ Sadi, Andréia; Assis, Mariana (14 June 2022). "Embaixada do Brasil admite erro sobre corpos terem sido encontrados e pede desculpas à família de Dom Phillips". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  27. ^ "Amarildo confessou envolvimento em morte de Dom e Bruno no Amazonas, diz PF". Rede Bandeirantes (in Brazilian Portuguese). 15 June 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  28. ^ Ana Sousa (15 June 2022). "Suspeito confessa homícidio de Dom Phillips e Bruno Araújo que desapareceram na Amazónia". Observador (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  29. ^ Vinicius Sassine; Cézar Feitoza; Rosiene Carvalho (15 June 2022). "Pescador preso confessou assassinato de indigenista e jornalista no AM, diz PF". Folha de S.Paulo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  30. ^ Camila Bomfim (16 June 2022). "PF agora investiga cinco suspeitos em inquérito sobre morte de Dom Phillips e Bruno Pereira". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  31. ^ "Segundo suspeito de participação no desaparecimento de jornalista e indigenista é preso no AM". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). 14 June 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  32. ^ "Brazil police arrest third suspect in killings of Dom Phillips and Bruno Pereira". The Guardian. Associated Press. 18 June 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
  33. ^ agencies, Staff and (22 July 2022). "Three charged in Brazil with murder of Dom Phillips and Bruno Pereira". the Guardian. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  34. ^ "Three charged over murders of Bruno Pereira, Dom Philips". Agência Brasil. 22 July 2022. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  35. ^ "Dom Phillips and Bruno Pereira: Brazilian former official indicted over murders". BBC News. 20 May 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  36. ^ Phillips, Tom (5 June 2023). "Brazil police charge alleged mastermind behind murders of Dom Phillips and Bruno Pereira". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  37. ^ Naná DeLuca (6 June 2022). "Redes perguntam: onde estão Dom Phillips e Bruno Pereira?". Folha de S.Paulo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 10 June 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  38. ^ "Protestos em Londres e nos EUA cobram respostas pelo desaparecimento de Dom Phillips e Bruno Pereira". G1. 9 June 2022. Archived from the original on 9 June 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  39. ^ Thays Martins (9 June 2022). "Editores pelo mundo cobram Bolsonaro sobre desaparecimentos". Correio Braziliense (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 10 June 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  40. ^ "Brazil: Authorities must not waste another second in search for Dom Phillips and Bruno Pereira". Anistia Internacional. 9 June 2022. Archived from the original on 10 June 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  41. ^ Pepita Ortega (8 June 2022). "Justiça aponta 'omissão' do governo federal e manda reforçar buscas por Dom Phillips e Bruno Pereira". Terra (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 9 June 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  42. ^ "Justiça determina que governo reforce buscas a Bruno Pereira e Dom Phillips". Jornal Nacional (in Brazilian Portuguese). 8 June 2022. Archived from the original on 9 June 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  43. ^ João Gabriel (7 June 2022). "Governo Bolsonaro é cobrado por omissão e minimiza desaparecimento enquanto anuncia ações". Folha de S.Paulo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 10 June 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  44. ^ Jack Nicas; Ana Ionova; André Spigariol (8 June 2022). "Amenazas y luego armas: un periodista y un experto desaparecen en la Amazonía". The New York Times (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 9 June 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  45. ^ "Delincuencia e impunidad en el Valle del Yavarí, el lugar donde desaparecieron un periodista y su acompañante". El Comercio (in Spanish). Associated Press. 8 June 2022. Archived from the original on 10 June 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  46. ^ "Bruno Pereira and Dom Phillips: foreign press calls for reinforcement of searches to Bolsonaro". News. 9 June 2022.
  47. ^ Tom Phillips (6 June 2022). "safety fears for British journalist missing in Brazilian Amazon". The Guardian.
  48. ^ "Dom Phillips: Friends and family demand answers". BBC News. 13 June 2022.
  49. ^ "Search launched for British journalist and Brazilian anthropologist missing in the Amazon". Le Monde. 8 June 2022.
  50. ^ "Hopes dim, anger grows in British journalist's disappearance in Brazil". The Washington Post. 7 June 2022.
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