Threats in the area of ​​disappearance are growing, says Univaja spokesperson

Threats against people who work in the region of Atalaia do Norte, in Amazonas, where the indigenist Bruno Araújo Pereira and the English journalist Dom Phillips disappeared, have grown, according to the coordinator of the Union of Indigenous Organizations of the Javari Valley (Univaja ), Soraya Zaiden, in an interview with CNN this Monday (13).

“We have seen this increase. From anonymous threats, even some threats that happened with violence. In the city center of Atalaia, for example, we had Univaja members being confronted by fishermen who felt prevented from continuing their illicit activities,” he said.

The statement of the disappearance of the pair was made by Univaja on Monday (6). At the time, the entity reported that the indigenist’s team had suffered threats in the previous week and that these would not have been the first.

“That has always been a region of conflict, and we know that, but in recent years, we have seen an increasing number of invasions of indigenous lands,” said Zaiden.

In a press conference held last Wednesday (8), the regional superintendent of the Federal Police of Amazonas, Eduardo Alexandre Fontes, also stated that the region is “dangerous”, especially due to issues involving drug trafficking, illegal logging and and mine.

“The notifications were several, several and in several periods. We file with the Public Ministry, always followed by reports with some evidence, through photos, through records of all kinds. But, unfortunately, we did not have any effective measures to inhibit this action”, highlighted the Univaja spokeswoman.

Searches are coming to an end, says Univaja legal prosecutor

The legal prosecutor of the Union of Indigenous Peoples of the Javari Valley (Univaja), Eliesio Marubo, said in a live broadcast this Monday (13) that the searches for Bruno Araújo and Dom Phillips are coming to an end.

Marubo informed that Univaja will receive indigenous volunteers to assist in the operation. “This moment is coming to an end because our force has increased and we know the region very well, more than the entire police force”, he said.

According to Marubo, the traces found by the organization’s team made it possible for the Federal Police to locate the belongings and, consequently, limit the search area. He further claimed that he cannot reveal what genetic material was found. The Federal Police asked the entity to keep the information confidential. The prosecutor added that there is still no confirmation that the content belongs to humans.

On behalf of Univaja, the prosecutor again denied that bodies, body parts or viscera were found this Monday (13). “Our team remains in the search area and our work continues tirelessly. I believe and understand that it is possible to find them alive. We will only discredit it when we find a trace that in fact proves both were succumbed by a criminal operation in our region,” he said.