Brazil: confirmed that the human remains found in the Amazon correspond to the British journalist

Brazilian federal police confirmed on Friday that some of the mortal remains found in an Amazonian river correspond to the British reporter Dom Phillipsassassinated together with the indigenist Bruno Araújo Pereira.

According to a note released by that body, the confirmation was possible thanks to “an examination of forensic dentistry combined with forensic anthropology” and It is now being investigated whether other remains found correspond to the Brazilian indigenist.

Similarly, according to the Efe news agency, the report states that the analyzes continue to “understand the causes of deaths, as well as indicate the dynamics of the crime and the concealment of bodies”.

Phillips and Araujo Pereira they had disappeared since last June 5th and they were last seen sailing on a river in the Jaravi Valley region, in a remote part of the region, near the border with Colombia and Peru.

As part of the investigation, two illegal fishermen operating in that area were arrested and eventually arrested one of them confessed to the murders.

This Wednesday, he took authorities to a remote location where he said they were buried.

Human remains were found in that place, then transferred to Brasilia to carry out the necessary analyzes to confirm the identity of the victims.

Also this Friday, the Federal Police indicated that, so far, the investigations “indicate the fact that the perpetrators acted alone”, while specifying that new arrests must be made, as there are indications of a possible participation of other people, as well as to the two fishermen already arrested.

Araújo Pereira, a leave officer of the National Indian Foundation (Funai), he had been subjected to several threats by illegal fishermen, loggers and even drug traffickers operating in the Javari Valley, where the presence of the state is scarce.

In fact, the fisherman Amarildo Da Costa Oliveira “Pelado”, who confessed to killing Phillips, a veteran collaborator of The Guardian, and Araújo, also acknowledged that the indigenist had already intercepted him by practicing illegal fishing in the area.

Authorities also said that searches continue to locate the boat on which Phillips and Araújo Pereira were traveling, which, according to the “Pelado” version, was sunk with some sacks of earth to prevent its discovery.

The deaths of Phillips, 57, and Araújo, 41, generated a worldwide shock and highlighted the threats surrounding the jungle and indigenous peoples of the Amazon, such as mining, fishing, poaching and drug trafficking.

Criticism of Jair Bolsonaro

The disappearance of both has reignited criticism of Jair Bolsonaro, who has been accused of encouraging invasions of indigenous lands with his speech in favor of economic exploitation of the jungle since he came to power in 2019.

Greenpeace assured this Thursday that in the last three years Brazil has configured itself as the land of “all is well”fueled by the “actions and omissions” of his government.

In Brussels, seven Brazilian indigenous leaders denounced the climate of violence and “impunity” in the Amazon in front of the European Union headquarters. One of them, Dinamam Tuxa, told the AFP news agency that “Bruno and Dom Phillips have been victims of government policies.”

Phillips’ family in the UK said they were “heartbroken” by the deaths and thanked the research participants, “especially the natives”.

“Now that Bruno’s spirits are walking in the jungle and scattered among us, our strength is much greater,” wrote Beatriz Matos, the wife of the indigenist, on Twitter.

On Thursday, the Brazilian president reacted to the deaths of Phillips and Pereira with a concise tweet: “Our condolences to the families and may God console the hearts of all.”

In recent days, he has sparked outrage by assuring that the Phillips and Pereira raid was “a not recommended adventure” and that the reporter was “seen badly” in the region for reporting illegal activities.

DB