Thousands of people are dependent on the river for drinking and fishing. The mining waste is polluted with heavy metals like lead and copper. The Fruits of the Sagopalm have been polluted. In the coming years, Freeport wants to increase the dumping to 285.000 tons a day. With the support of Freeport, the Indonesian army protects the Mine.
Protest is met with violent repression.
According to Amnesty International two people were killed and 15 injured in 1997 during a roadblock. The local Papua Peoples Amungme and Komoro, who have been struggling in a peaceful way for years against the pollution and the human right abuses, have recently decided to continue their courtcase against Freeport. The Papua's urge immediate indemnification from Freeport for the damage that has been done, an end to the pollution, the restoration of the rivers and the repair of all damage caused by minerals.