Indigenous peoples shout slogans about defending the Amazon at the People’s Summit, a gathering coinciding with the COP30 UN Climate Summit (AP photo)
Tensions erupted late Tuesday evening at the Cop30 climate conference in Belém, Brazil, after a group of Indigenous and non-Indigenous protesters forced their way into the main conference centre, leading to scuffles with security personnel. Around 50 demonstrators, some wearing traditional feathered headdresses, reportedly damaged a door before breaching the entrance and passing through metal detectors into the Blue Zone — a restricted area reserved for accredited delegates, as reported by The Guardian.
UN security intervened as the crowd entered, triggering brief physical confrontations and heated verbal exchanges. One protester unfurled a banner reading “Our forests are not for sale”, while others wore shirts emblazoned with “Juntos” (“Together”).Security forces eventually removed the group from the premises. According to a UN climate spokesperson, two guards sustained minor injuries, and limited damage was reported to the facility. Fire brigade officers later established a security perimeter at the entrance. The identities of those involved remain unclear. Juan Carlos Monterrey-Gómez, a Panamanian climate negotiator who witnessed the incident, remarked, “At last, something has happened here.” Agustin Ocaña of the Global Youth Coalition said some protesters shouted, “They cannot decide for us without us,” underscoring frustration over what they see as inadequate Indigenous representation. He added that tensions were fueled by grievances over funding priorities — particularly development spending in Belém at the expense of essential community services. The UN confirmed that Brazilian and UN security teams had contained the situation and launched an investigation. Conference sessions continued without major disruption. This year’s Brazilian-hosted Cop has stood out for its encouragement of civil society participation and public demonstrations. Indigenous groups and NGOs have maintained a strong presence, counterbalancing corporate influence. A series of side events — including a people’s summit and youth rally — are scheduled later this week, ahead of a major demonstration planned for Saturday.
