belem, brazil
Reuters
—
On Tuesday, dozens of indigenous protesters forced their way into the COP30 climate summit venue demanding climate action and forest protection, and clashed with security guards at the entrance.
Angry protesters demanded access to United Nations facilities where thousands of delegates from around the world are attending this year’s United Nations Climate Change Summit in the Brazilian Amazon city of Belem.
Some waved flags with slogans calling for land rights and held placards that read “Our land is not for sale.”
“We can’t eat money,” said Gilmar, an indigenous leader from the Tupinamba community near the lower reaches of Brazil’s Tapajos River. He uses only one name. “We want our lands to be free of agribusiness, oil exploration, illegal miners, and illegal loggers.”
Security guards pushed demonstrators back and used tables to barricade the entrance. A Reuters witness saw a security guard holding his stomach as he rushed away in a wheelchair.
Another guard, who suffered a fresh cut above his eye, told Reuters he was hit in the head with a heavy drumstick thrown from the crowd. The guards confiscated several long, heavy sticks.
Protesters dispersed immediately after the clashes. They were part of a group of several hundred people marching to the venue.
Security then allowed participants to leave the venue, but asked them to return until the area was cleared. The United Nations is responsible for security on the premises.
“Earlier this evening, a group of demonstrators broke through the security fence at the main gate of COP, causing minor injuries to two security staff and minor damage to the venue,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
“Brazilian and UN security personnel followed all established security protocols and took protective measures to secure the venue. Brazilian and UN authorities are investigating the incident. The venue is fully secured and COP negotiations continue.”
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has highlighted indigenous communities as key players in this year’s COP30 negotiations.
Dozens of indigenous leaders arrived by boat earlier this week to join talks and call for more say in how forests are managed.
In a separate interview on Tuesday, a prominent indigenous leader told Reuters that many indigenous communities resent ongoing industrial and development projects in their forests. Raoni Metukutile, also known as Chief Raoni, appealed to Brazil to empower indigenous peoples to protect the Amazon.
