November 12, 2025 | 10:20 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Dozens of indigenous protesters forced their way into the COP30 climate conference venue in Brazil on Tuesday night, clashing with security forces at the entrance to demand climate action and forest protection.
Shouting angrily, the protesters demanded access to the United Nations complex, where thousands of delegates from around the world are attending this year's UN climate conference in the Amazon city of Belem, Brazil.
Some people waved flags bearing slogans demanding land rights, while others carried banners that read: "Our land is not for sale."
"We can't eat money," said Gilmar, an indigenous community leader from the Tupinamba community near the lower reaches of the Tapajos River in Brazil, who only uses one name, as quoted by CNA.
"We want our lands free from agribusiness, oil exploration, illegal miners and illegal loggers."
Security personnel pushed the protesters back and used tables to block the entrance. An eyewitness saw a security officer being carried away in a wheelchair while holding his stomach.
Another guard with a fresh wound above his eye said he had been hit in the head by a heavy drumstick thrown from the crowd. Security officers confiscated several long and heavy sticks.
The protesters dispersed shortly after the clash. They had earlier been in a group of hundreds marching towards the venue.
Security forces then allowed the delegates to leave the venue after previously instructing them to stay inside until the area was secure. The UN is responsible for security within the complex.
"Earlier this evening, a group of protesters breached security barriers at the main entrance to the COP, causing minor injuries to two security staff, and minor damage to the venue," a spokesperson said in a statement.
"Brazilian and UN security personnel took protective actions to secure the venue, following all established security protocols. 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.
Earlier this week, dozens of indigenous leaders arrived by boat to participate in the talks and demand a greater voice in forest management.
Voices of Brazilian Indigenous People
In a separate interview on Tuesday, a prominent indigenous leader said many indigenous people are upset with ongoing industrial projects and development in the forest. Raoni Metuktire, also known as Chief Raoni, urged Brazil to empower indigenous communities to preserve the Amazon.
Agustn Ocana, a mobilization coordinator for youth at the Global Youth Coalition, said he was outside when he saw two groups of people-some wearing yellow shirts and others in indigenous community attire-walk towards the venue.
He said initially they were mostly just dancing and singing, and he decided to follow them as he had friends in the indigenous group.
He did not see which group first breached security, but said the situation escalated when the guards reacted by forcibly closing the doors and calling for backup.
Ocana said some of the people who entered were chanting, "They cannot decide for us without us," referring to the tensions over indigenous participation in the conference.
He added that some indigenous communities feel frustrated seeing resources poured into building a "new city" while urgent needs for education, healthcare, and forest protection remain unmet elsewhere.
"They were not doing this because they were bad people. They’re desperate, trying to protect their land, the river," Ocaa said as quoted by France24.
"It’s important the world knows this is just a small piece of what can happen if we keep having these never-ending conversations about how we’re going to protect the planet while we keep destroying it," he said.
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