The Dom Phillips family spoke of their broken hearts over the murder of British journalist and indigenous activist Bruno Pereira, with colleagues saying the men’s work would be an inspiration to others.
In a statement issued on behalf of Philips Xian’s sister, his brother Garrett and their partners and children, the family thanked those who took part in the 10-day search.
The news and investigative website Repórter Brasil, with which Philips collaborates, darkened the top of its front page. “Tourni,” he wrote. “The Brazilian reporter continues to investigate violence against traditional people in the province, as well as against all those who protect you,” the statement said.
The first page of the Repórter Brasil website on Thursday.
Phillips, 57, and Pereira, 41, disappeared on June 5 at the end of a short trip on the Itaquai River in western Brazil.
Pereira accompanied Phillips on a reportage trip for a book on sustainable development in the Amazon, but their boat did not arrive on schedule at Atalaia do Norte, not far from Brazil’s border with Peru.
At a press briefing late Wednesday, regional police chief Eduardo Fontes announced that one of the two men arrested in connection with the couple’s disappearance had admitted to killing them.
The Phillips brothers and sisters said in a statement that they were especially grateful for the leading efforts of the indigenous people at a time when local authorities considered it a lethargic approach to the disappearance of men.
Regarding the partners of the two men, Alessandra and Beatrice, the family wrote: “We are devastated by the confirmation that Dom and Bruno were killed and express our deepest condolences to Alessandra, Beatrice and the other Brazilian family members of both men. We are grateful to all those who took part in the search, especially to the indigenous groups who worked tirelessly to find evidence of the attack. “
The statement continued: “In time, we will offer our perspective on the brave life and important work of these remarkable men, but for now we ask the media to allow the family to deal alone with what happened to their beloved home.
“We thank many people who have joined us in calling on the authorities to step up the search and those who have turned to us with consolation and sympathy.
The suspect, who admitted to being involved in the murder of Phillips and Pereira, briefed police on Tuesday on the whereabouts of the bodies, and he joined investigators in retrieving them on Wednesday.
The location, an area known as Lago do Preguiça, is an hour and 40 minutes by boat from the river town of Atalaia do Norte and another 2.9 miles on foot in a dense forest.
Phillips’ wife, Alessandra Sampaio, issued a statement Wednesday night saying she was relieved that the bodies had been found after an agonizing week and a half.
“This tragic result puts an end to the grief of not knowing the whereabouts of Dom and Bruno,” she wrote.
“Now we can bring them home and say goodbye with love. Today, we are also beginning our quest for justice. I hope that the investigations will exhaust all possibilities and give definite answers to all important details as soon as possible. “
Pereira’s wife, Beatrice Matos, tweeted: “Now that Bruno’s spirits are wandering in the woods and spreading among us, our strength is much greater.
Guardian Editor-in-Chief Catherine Wiener said she was “deeply saddened”.
“Dom was an outstanding reporter and a longtime contributor to the Guardian,” she said. “His bold and humane journalism has done so much to present the stories of Brazil and Latin America to a global audience through the pages of the Guardian and other news organizations.
“Bruno Pereira was a well-known defender of the rights of Brazil’s indigenous peoples and was fully committed to the traditional peoples of the Amazon. At the Guardian, we are so sorry to hear this heartbreaking news, and all our thoughts are with Dom and Bruno’s family and friends.
Jonathan Watts, global editor of the Guardian’s environment, said he hoped the two men’s lives would be an inspiration to those interested in the Amazon.
“This is a horror story that will hate anyone who is a journalist, anyone who is interested in the Amazon, the indigenous people, our planetary life support systems,” Watts said. “But I hope this will inspire, not deter, editors and reporters, so that there is even more attention to the stories that Dom was interested in.
“I really hope that the work started by Dom can be continued and expanded. And for me, that would be the only way to make something decent out of something so monstrous. ”
Pat Venditi, CEO of Greenpeace UK, praised Phillips and Pereira as “brave, passionate and determined men”.
He said in a statement that the men “were killed while doing their vital work to shed light on the daily threats facing Brazil’s indigenous people while defending their land and rights.”
Venditi accused far-right Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro of giving “a political and moral license to predate in and around local lands”.
“The greatest tribute we can pay to Bruno and Dom now is to continue their vital work until all Brazilian peoples and their forests are fully protected,” the Greenpeace official added.
A crowdfunding campaign has been launched in support of the families of Dom Phillips and Bruno Pereira. Donate here in English or here in Portuguese.
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