In March 2023, PT Vale Indonesia reported the residents of Sorowako to the East Luwu police for illegal land use, despite the fact that the site had previously been set as compensation to replace the community land taken by PT Vale Indonesia for nickel mining activities on Mount Songko in the 1970s. PT Vale Indonesia subpoenaed 39 residents as of March 2023, and 21 people were summoned by the East Luwu police for clarification. The residents of Sorowako have been actively defending their land since the start of mining activities in the region.

The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited PT Vale Indonesia to respond; it's response can be found here.