Indigenous Activists and Security Forces Clash at COP30 in Brazil
Belém, Brazil - Clashes erupted at the COP30 climate conference in Belém, Brazil, on Tuesday evening as activists breached security and entered the conference grounds, resulting in injuries. The incident occurred as negotiations at the summit continue, drawing journalists reporting from various time zones.
By late evening (local time), the situation had calmed, though entrances to the COP site remained closed. Masked soldiers and other security forces were deployed in front of the gates, alongside several police cars wiht flashing lights.
The United Nations is responsible for security inside the venue, while local authorities secure the perimeter. A UN spokesperson stated the venue was fully secured and negotiations were ongoing. Brazilian and UN authorities have launched an examination into how the activists gained access and the motivations behind their actions.
The incident raises concerns for both Brazil and the United Nations as ministers prepare to arrive for the final phase of negotiations. Questions are being asked about security protocols and the underlying frustrations driving the activists’ actions.
Conference management announced the main entrance would be repaired and reopened at 7 a.m. (local time, 11 a.m. CET) on Wednesday.
Indigenous Leaders Demand Greater Representation
The unrest coincides with the presence of thousands of indigenous activists at the conference, campaigning against threats to their ancestral lands, including deforestation of the Amazon rainforest. these leaders are seeking a greater voice in forest management decisions at the summit.
A local journalist, requesting anonymity for security reasons, told a dpa reporter that an escalation had been anticipated, citing a history of violence against environmentalists in Brazil. “This pain has existed for a long time,” the journalist stated.
Organizers of a prior march through the city distanced themselves from the subsequent violent scenes. “The actions that took place after the march were not part of the organization of the event,” a representative of 350.org stated.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has acknowledged the importance of indigenous communities in the negotiations. However, prominent leader Raoni Metuktire expressed anger among indigenous people regarding ongoing industrial and progress projects in the rainforest, calling on the government in Brasília to grant indigenous communities greater rights to protect the amazon.
COP30 is scheduled to continue until November 21st,with further protests and “climate strikes” planned around the globe at the weekend.
Source: dpa/rtr/AFP/dp**