Master of Brazilian celebrities who have led the three-time World Cup winner Pele, yes joined calls for authorities to intensify search for British journalist and Indigenous Brazilian advocate missing in the Amazon rainforest.
Pele, now 81, is considered one of greatest players of retweeted videos all the time made on appeal by Phillips’ wife for more urgency in Search for her husband and Bruno Pereira.
” fight for preservation of Amazon forest and of indigenous peoples belong to all of us”, former Santos legend wrote on Twitter.
“I was touched by the disappearance of House of Phillips and Bruno Ferreira, who dedicate your life to it cause. I join many voices calling for more searches.”
His words came like power in in remote region on Brazil border with Peru announced they arrested a man in possession of weapons and ammunition.
The name of the suspect was not released, but earlier police said they had detained Amarilda da Costa de Oliveira. He was reported to have threatened Phillips, Pereira and group of 13 Indigenous peoples people on Saturday morning when they traveled in Vale do Zhavari region.
An eyewitness to the clash told The Guardian that Da Costa and two other armed men threatened group until they stopped side of ithacai river in state of Amazonas.
Police said they could not yet link the suspect to the couple’s disappearance.
“We have material what is he doing us I suspect there is a link to fact”said Carlos Alberto Mansour, Chief of Police of the State of Amazonas. “But still just suspicion. This is still under investigation.”
“Currently our main work is looking for and we still hope to find them alive. What did they have problem with their boat they went up the river that they got lost in jungle. It’s a jungle, it’s very hard area.
“We still do not have convincing indications of crime It was committed”.
Pereira, 41, perennial advocate of Indigenous tribes in huge and remote jungle area got death threats for his work helping protect indigenous groups from drug dealers and illegal miners, loggers and hunters who desire land in a region rich with Natural resources.
He and Phillips were last visible on Sunday morning during a boat trip on Javari. region of state of Amazonas. They were returning from a two-day reporter’s trip, but arrive scheduled in the city of Atalaya do Norte.
Phillips, longtime contributor to the Guardian, Washington Post and others international publications, researched the book on stable development in in region.
He received a scholarship from the Alicia Patterson Foundation to write a book and sought to finish it’s towards the end of this is year.
On Tuesday his wife Alessandra Sampaio made emotional appeal for authorities speed up their search, and in the case hit headlines in Brazil personalities from the world of sports culture and media joined in.
Dr. Draucio Varella, public health expert and broadcaster who is one of Brazil best-favorite personalities, called Phillips “very serious” and said: “We need find out what happened.”
“Whole world looks us And we need find out what happened and those responsible, if they exist, should face exemplary punishment,” he said. in video message.
Musician Cayetano Veloso said he planned to talk about Phillips and Pereira during his performance. show at the Vivo Rio Concert Hall in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday evening.
Beyond Pele, Everton and Brazil forward Richarlison retweeted an emotional video of Phillips’ wife, and Walter Casagrande former Brazilian player who now famous presenter, made his own recorded message in support of two people according to him, dedicated to the protection of human rights and environment.
“They are friends of our indigenous people and we can’t remain quiet,” former Corinthians, Porto and Torino striker said. “It is the government’s responsibility to intensify the search… This is a very serious matter.”
Football club Corinthians tweeted them support; singer Gaby Amaranthos made her own video; and Sonia Guajajara, Indigenous Leader who was recently named one of Most Influential Time Magazine people of 2022, raised issue with US Climate Envoy John Kerry, on visit to New York.
In the UK, shady foreign secretary David Lammy, urged the Brazilian authorities to “do everything possible to find them as soon as possible as well as for Ministry of Foreign Affairs use through all the diplomatic channels at its disposal.”
