They denounce that several indigenous representatives registered to participate in the activities of the Summit, however they have not been allowed access. | Photo: Twitter @amazonwatch

Brasilia, June 8 (RHC)-- Indigenous representatives of the Amazon rainforest, in South America, have denounced being excluded from the work of civil society in the so-called Summit of the Americas being held this week in Los Angeles, which has on its agenda the discussion on climate change.

According to the founder and president of the non-governmental organization Amazon Watch, Atossa Soltani:"Indigenous voices are not being heard at the Summit of the Americas," because "several indigenous delegates have been denied entry," she added.

In this sense, Soltani denounced that several indigenous representatives registered to participate in the activities of the Summit and traveled enormous distances to reach the meeting in the United States, however they have not been allowed access "saying that there is not enough space for everyone."

"Indigenous peoples not only have the solutions to our climate and biodiversity crisis, they are the original inhabitants.  The reason we have these incredibly intact rainforests in Latin America is because indigenous people for centuries have cared for them and defended them with their lives," said Soltani.

For his part, the activist of the Achuar community in the Ecuadorian Amazon, Domingo Peas, said that "in these important events, where there are governments in power, we should all be indigenous people from different countries, to reach them with our voice and our proposal," he said.

The also member of the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of the Ecuadorian Amazon (Confeniae), traveled by boat, car, bus and plane for more than two days to get from his remote community of about a hundred families to Los Angeles, only to hear that he could not participate in the event in which the environmental issue should be addressed.

Notwithstanding this prohibition, the groups have called for a demonstration this Wednesday at the venue of the so-called Summit of the Americas, one of whose protest targets will be Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, whom they describe as "the greatest enemy the Amazon has ever faced".

In the same sense, they denounce that he is a "man willing to sell the rainforest. It is likely that Bolsonaro will try to use the Summit to promote the impression that he is a welcome member of the international community."