Dozens of indigenous protesters and other climate activists forced their way into the main venue of the UN climate summit in Brazil on Tuesday evening.
He then scuffled with security officers inside the compound, where thousands of delegates from countries around the world are attending this year’s COP30 climate summit in the Amazon city of Belém.
Some protesters waved flags and chanted slogans, while others chanted slogans calling for land rights or carried placards that read, “Our land is not for sale.”
“We can’t eat the money,” Gilmer, an indigenous leader from the Tupinambá community near the lower reaches of the Tapajós River in Brazil, told the Reuters news agency.
“We want our lands to be free of agribusiness, oil exploration, illegal miners and illegal loggers,” said Gilmour, who used only one name.
Agustin Ocaña, youth mobilization coordinator for the Global Youth Coalition, told the Associated Press news agency that some in the group were chanting, “They can’t make decisions for us without us.”
This is a reference to the tension over the participation of indigenous peoples in the conference.
Security personnel suffered minor injuries in the clash
Journalists at the scene reported seeing a police officer being taken away in a wheelchair.
Another guard, who had a fresh wound above his eye, told Reuters he was hit on the head by a heavy drumstick thrown by the crowd.
Ocaña said he saw protesters and security personnel hit each other with small plastic containers. One guard was bleeding from a head injury, he said.
Security confiscated several long, heavy sticks.
A UN Climate Change spokesperson said the incident resulted in minor injuries to two security staff and minor damage to the venue.
The confrontation occurred late as people were leaving the venue for COP30.
UN police officers were asking people inside the venue to evacuate the vast space of huge air-conditioned tents.
The UN Police are responsible for security within the conference grounds, while local authorities assume responsibility for the surrounding area.
Access to the venue was closed and security forces were tightly guarded.
Indigenous communities demand greater participation in forest management
Earlier on Tuesday, prominent indigenous leader Raoni Metuktire told Reuters that many indigenous community Were troubled by infrastructure projects in the forest.
Raoni Metuktire, leader of Brazil’s indigenous Kayapo people, has been fighting to protect his homeland in the Amazon for decades.
He warned that proposed highways, rail projects, and oil wells would harm people around the world.
He said, “These projects destroy rivers and lands and they are continuing to do so… It will be very bad for us. And for you too. You are bringing the consequences on yourself.”
Edited by: Sam Dusan Inayatullah