The Brazilian military have begun scouring the Amazon in search of a missing journalist, whose disappearance has sparked concerns about abuses of activists and indigenous people in the region. Fernando Augusto de Oliveira, a 61-year-old reporter and videographer from São Paul, was reported missing on Saturday 3rd April, 2021 after travelling to Pará state in Brazil’s north to film a report on the alleged abuse of indigenous rights. As Oliveira’s disappearance has been causing an outcry in the Brazilian press, authorities are now enlisting the help of the military to find him.
Family Fears for Safety of Missing Journalist
Oliveira’s family has expressed fears for his safety and are appealing to the Brazilian authorities to do everything they can to find him. His daughter, Lorena Araújo Oliveira, said: “We are very concerned about the possibility of something happening to my father. He is an elderly man, with no enemies. He was only trying to defend the cause of indigenous people and we are asking for whatever help the authorities can give us to find him.”
Brazilian Military Joining Search and Rescue Effort
The Brazilian Military have enlisted in the search and rescue effort for Oliveira and are currently scouring the Amazon, in the hope of finding the missing journalist. Military spokesman, Colonel Hélio Lemos de Lima, said: “The Brazilian Military have been mobilised to help find the missing man. We have dispatched helicopters to the area with experienced search and rescue teams on board, as well as all-terrain vehicles and boats to comb the rivers and lakes of the Amazon.”
Persistent Abuse of Activists and Indigenous People
Oliveira’s disappearance has underscored the persistent issue of abuse of activists and indigenous people in the remote regions of Brazil’s Amazon, and prompted calls for the protection of human rights in the region. In 2019, according to monitoring group Global Witness, 57 environmental defenders were killed in Brazil, the highest in any country in the world. In 2020, authorities discovered the skeletal remains of six indigenous people in the Maranhão state in Brazil’s northeast Amazon region.
Gathering of Mourners at Peace Vigil
On Wednesday 7th April 2021, Oliveira’s friends and family gathered in São Paulo for an ecumenical service to remember him. Lorena Araújo said: “We want to send a message of peace, to remember my father and to remind the authorities to do all they can to protect human rights, especially in the Amazon.”
Oliveira’s Disappearance: Key Questions
Oliveira’s disappearance has sparked a debate amongst journalists, activists and politicians about the need for stronger protection for both local people and activists in the Amazon. Questions are being raised about why the government has not done more to protect human rights in the Amazon. Is it due to a lack of resources, or is it a refusal to interfere with powerful land owners? What action is being taken to protect the people and activists in the Amazon?
What is the Government Doing to Find its Missing Citizen?
The government has expressed its commitment to finding Oliveira, but has provided scant details on the specific steps being taken so far to locate him. It has been reported that there are currently sixty police officers and military personnel involved in the search and rescue effort.
Challenges of Conducting a Search and Rescue Mission in the Amazon Rainforest
The Amazon is the world’s largest forest, spanning across nine South American nations. Its dense vegetation, extreme temperatures, and large distances for the search and rescue team to cover, make the task of finding Oliveira a very difficult challenge, as it is easy for a human being to go unnoticed for days in the deep Amazonian rainforest.
What Rights do Indigenous People Have in the Amazon?
Indigenous people in Brazil are guaranteed certain rights by the Brazilian constitution which include the right to their ancestral lands, the right to self-determination, the right to be consulted on decisions affecting them, and the right to the maintenance of their culture, language and religion.
However, these rights are often disregarded in practice. A recent report by the Amazon Environmental Research Institute (IPAM) revealed that two-thirds of the Indigenous rights violations in the Amazon result from illegal logging and land invasions, and illegal logging accounts for 70 percent of deforestation in the whole of Brazil.
The Human Rights of Activists in Brazil
The Brazilian constitution guarantees certain rights to freedom of expression, assembly and association, as well as the right to hold and express opinions without interference. Despite these guarantees, activists in Brazil have been increasingly targeted and abused. Brazilian human rights organisations are calling on the Brazilian state to protect activists, including those in the Amazon.
The Role of NGOs in Monitoring Human Rights Abuses
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are playing an important role in the monitoring of human rights abuse in the Amazon. NGOs such as Terra dos Direitos, Global Witness and Human Rights Watch monitor activities in the region, analyse potential abuses and track violations of human rights. They also provide legal assistance and advice to indigenous communities, activists and other individuals affected by abuse in the Amazon.
President Bolsonaro’s Response to Oliveira’s Disappearance
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has acquitted himself of any responsibility for the missing journalist, and called into question the credibility of the news reports about his disappearance. He told reporters on Thursday 8th April 2021: “There’s no reason for me to be involved, it’s a matter for the state. Obviously this is another of these fake news stories that have been going round and I deny any support for this fabrication.”
Racial Inequality and Indigenous Rights in Brazil
Racial inequality and indigenous rights remain key issues in Brazil today. The Indigenous and Tribal People’s Convention of 1989 recognised the right of indigenous people to own, develop, control and use their ancestral lands. Despite this, discrimination and abuses of indigenous rights are still commonplace in Brazil. In addition, discrimination against darker-skinned people is still common, whereby they face greater levels of poverty, shorter life expectancy, and worse education and healthcare compared to their white counterparts.
Brazilian Civil Society Urges Government to Take Action on Abuse of Activists
The death of the environmental activist and land defender, Paulo Paulino Guajajara, in November 2020 has raised concerns about the safety of activists in the Amazon. Guajajara, a member of the Guajajara tribe, was protecting his homeland from illegal logging and assisting police with their investigation into his death. His case has focused attention on the lack of protection and justice for activists and indigenous people, who are being killed for defending the environment.
Brazilian civil society organisations have called on the government to take decisive action to protect human rights, and to ensure that any illegal activity in the Amazon is properly investigated and prosecuted.
The disappearance of Fernando Augusto de Oliveira has once again raised concerns about the persistent issue of abuse of activists and indigenous people in Brazil’s Amazon region. Despite the efforts of the Brazilian military, and the hope held by the family, there has been no sign of Oliveira since his disappearance. Questions are being asked about the government’s commitment to protecting human rights in the Amazon, and there is a strong call from civil society organisations to take decisive action to protect both activists and indigenous people in the region.
