Senate committee finishes report on Amazon killings

The Senate committee created to investigate the murders of indigenous expert Bruno Araújo Pereira and British journalist Dom Phillips concluded its report Tuesday (Aug 16). The document states there is substantial evidence showing there was something more elaborate than “a personal quarrel” behind the killings.

Senator Nelsinho Trad, who wrote the report, also highlights the fact that the probes have not yet identified the people in charge of the two murders. “It is at least plausible there may have been a coordinator and principal in this double homicide committed by several people, with the burning, mutilation, and concealment of the corpses in places of difficult access, as well as the sinking of the victims’ boat and the attempt to hide their belongings in the waters of a swamp.”

According to the rapporteur, throughout the meetings, which included an external expedition in Atalaia do Norte and Tabatinga, in Amazonas state, various statements helped draw an overview of violence on indigenous lands, including Vale do Javari, the indigenous territory where the crime took place.

“The indigenous territory is more than 8.5 million hectares in size, and is home to at least 26 uncontacted peoples. It borders cocaine-producing regions. These circumstances make the region a target for drug traffickers as well as illegal loggers, miners, hunters and fishermen,” the text reads.

The killings are therefore believed to result from the victims’ lack of protection against an organized scheme of illegal fishing in Vale do Javari, and may also have ties to activities such as drug trafficking and money laundering.

Action

Delivered before the 60-day period set for committee operations, the report includes three suggested changes to current legislation: the first granting firearm permits to members of Brazil’s indigenous authority FUNAI in inspection activities. The second calls for allowing Armed Forces to act in the prevention and repression of crimes against the rights of indigenous communities and their members. The last proposal is an increased penalty for violations committed on indigenous lands.

The report will be sent to the head of the Senate, the Federal Court of Accounts, and Federal Prosecution Service. The court is required to “clarify discrepancies between the information provided by FUNAI and the outcome observed,” and prosecutors are asked to look into the possible institutional omission on FUNAI’s part in meeting the demands made by the indigenous people regarding invaders in Vale do Javari.