President Jair Bolsonaro said this Wednesday (15) that British journalist Dom Phillips, 57, "was frowned upon in the Amazon region" because he reported against miners and that he should have paid more attention "to himself".

The chief executive said that Phillips and Brazilian indigenous activist Bruno Pereira, 41, "decided to enter a completely inhospitable area alone, without security."

Bolsonaro's statements were criticized by entities, who pointed out the president's disrespect for the journalist.

Amnesty International said Bolsonaro's "cruel and insensitive comments" "characterized the insensitivity of the authorities' management in the search for the two men".

A member of the Brazilian Forum for Public Security, researcher Aiala Couto said that Bolsonaro's stance further encourages violence related to mining, deforestation, and illegal logging in the Amazon.

Abraji (Brazilian Association of Investigative Journalism) and Fenaj (National Federation of Journalists) have also criticized the president's behavior.

_{Translated by Cassy Dias}