Protesters: Where are Dom Phillips and Bruno Pereira?

Relatives, friends, and demonstrators gathered on Sunday (Jun. 12) on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Rio to claim answers about the disappearance of journalist Dom Phillips and indigenous expert Bruno Pereira.

They disappeared a week ago in the region of the indigenous reserve of Vale do Javari—the country’s second-largest, stretching over 8.5 million hectares.

The protesters wore white t-shirts with a photo of the two and the question: Where are Dom Phillips and Bruno Pereira?

The demonstration took place at post 6, where Dom used to practice stand-up paddle.

Phillips, a contributor to UK daily The Guardian, and Pereira, an official of Brazil’s national indigenous foundation FUNAI on leave, were last seen Sunday morning (5). They were going from the riverside community of São Rafael to the town of Atalaia do Norte, when they disappeared without a trace.

Bruno Pereira, who is currently a collaborator for the indigenous association UNIVAJA, had already reported he had been threatened.

Last Friday (10), Amazon Federal Police, which is leading the security forces in the so-called Javari Operation, reported that search teams had found organic material “apparently human”, in an area close to Atalaia do Norte port. There is still no information as to whether the sample collected has anything to do with the disappearance of Dom Phillips and Bruno Pereira.

The Brazilian Criminalistics Institute will carry out a forensic analysis of the collected material, as well as of traces of blood found on the boat owned by Amarildo da Costa de Oliveira, 41, nicknamed “Pelado”.

He is suspected of being involved in the case and was temporarily arrested for 30 days on Thursday night (9).

Searches in the region are being carried out with the support of the Navy and FUNAI.