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Story Publication logo June 28, 2022

After Bruno and Dom’s Deaths, Univaja Articulates Actions in Brasília and Is Ignored by the Executive

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A series of investigative reports will look into the actions of the authorities and institutions in...

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This story excerpt was translated from Portuguese. To read the original story in full, visit Agência Pública. You may also view the original story on the Rainforest Journalism Fund website here. Our website is available in English, Spanish, bahasa Indonesia, French, and Portuguese.


Representatives of the Indigenous people have already presented their demands to the House of Representatives, Senate, Supreme Federal Supreme Court, and National Council of Justice (CNJ); a commission of parliamentarians will go to Vale do Javari this week.

  • Univaja (Union of Indigenous Peoples of Vale do Javari) arrived in the federal capital last week to demand security and justice from Brazilian institutions.
  • The House and Senate officially requested that the security of Indigenous people and indigenists be guaranteed by the State.
  • Minister Luís Roberto Barroso forwarded the secret lawsuit of Indigenous interest after meeting with the representative.

Brasília (DF)—Last week, representatives of the Union of Indigenous Peoples of Vale do Javari (Univaja) came to Brasília to demand the actions of Brazilian institutions in defense of Indigenous rights and to guarantee security in the northern region of Brazil. The visit took place amid the repercussions of the murder of British journalist Dom Phillips and Indigenous activist Bruno Pereira, who worked as an advisor to Univaja after leaving Funai during the government of Jair Bolsonaro (PL-RJ). 

In the federal capital, the representatives met with the Legislative and Judiciary branches, but say they have not heard back from the Executive, led by Jair Bolsonaro. As soon as Bruno and Dom's disappearance was reported, the president called the business trip of the two a "not recommendable adventure."

Still, the representatives of Univaja came to the federal capital with the intention of dialogue. "The maxim of the Marubo people is always to dialogue, regardless of the condition and situation," explained Eliesio Marubo, lawyer and legal attorney of Univaja, in a press conference on Thursday, June 23. 

"On behalf of Univaja and the Indigenous movement of Vale do Javari, if by any chance there is anyone from the Executive Branch willing to dialogue in an institutional manner, according to the basic principles of administration, and who has the minimum of respect for the Brazilian State and its institutions, I extend this invitation," the lawyer added. "I will stay in Brasília and I am available for us to talk about the problems of the Amazon and about the problems of Vale do Javari with regard to security, budget, finances, and all the competencies of the public agencies in the region."


Beto Marubo from Univaja and members of the House's External Commission during an informal meeting. Image by Laura Scofield/Agência Pública. Brazil, 2022.