The disappearances of a British journalist and a Brazilian expert in the Amazon are "
monstrous
" but should encourage them to "
amplify
" their investigations into environmental crimes and not deter them, said Thursday June 16 a colleague of the Briton.
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Read alsoDisappearance in the Amazon: for Bolsonaro, journalist Dom Phillips was "frowned upon" in the region
Ten days after the disappearance of journalist Dom Phillips, contributor to the British newspaper The Guardian, and Brazilian Bruno Pereira, a suspect admitted to having buried their bodies and "
human remains
" were found at the search site.
"
It's a horror story that will chill anyone who is a journalist, anyone who cares about the Amazon, about indigenous peoples, about our planetary survival systems
," the world's environment editor told AFP. of the Guardian, Jonathan Watts, who is based partly in Brazil.
“Courageous, passionate and determined”
“
I hope this will inspire rather than deter editors and journalists, so that there is even more attention paid to the subjects that were important to Dom
,” confided the editor-in-chief, adding hope that the work started by the journalist be continued and amplified.
“
It would be the only way for me that something good emerges from such a monstrous thing
,” he says.
Dom Phillips, 57, was working on a book on sustainable development in the Amazon.
Bruno Pereira, 41, served as his guide.
"
These brave, passionate and determined men were murdered while doing essential work to shed light on the daily threats that indigenous peoples in Brazil face as they defend their land and their rights
," said Pat Venditti, executive director of Greenpeace UK, in a statement.
Read alsoWhat we know about the mysterious disappearance of a journalist and an expert in the Amazon
Pat Venditti has accused Brazil's far-right President Jair Bolsonaro of giving "
political and moral license to carry out predatory activities in and around indigenous lands
".
"
The greatest tribute we can pay to Bruno and Dom now is to continue their vital work until all the peoples of Brazil and their forests are fully protected
," the Greenpeace official added.