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Sampit conflict
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The Sampit conflict was an outbreak of inter-ethnic
violence in Indonesia, beginning in February 2001 and
lasting throughout the year. The conflict started in the town
of Sampit, Central Kalimantan Province, and spread
throughout the province, including the capital,
Palangkaraya. The conflict was between the indigenous
Dayak people and the migrant Madurese from the island
of Madura off Java.[1]
The conflict broke out on February 18, 2001 when two
Madurese were attacked by a number of Dayaks.[2] The
conflict resulted in more than 500 deaths, with over
100,000 Madurese displaced from their homes.[3]
Hundreds of Madurese were also found to be decapitated
by the Dayaks.[4]
Contents
 1 Background
 2 Decapitations of Madurese
 3 Response by authorities
 4 See also
 5 References
Background[edit]
The Sampit conflict in 2001 was not an isolated incident,
as there had been previous incidents of violence between
the Dayaks and the Madurese. The last major conflict
occurred between December 1996 and January 1997, and
resulted in more than 600 deaths.[5] The Madurese first
arrived in Borneo in 1930 under the transmigration
program initiated by the Dutch colonial administration, and
continued by the Indonesian government.[6] In 1999,
Malays and Dayaks joined together in Kalimantan in
Indonesia to persecute and massacre Madurese during
the Sambas conflict. Madurese were mutilated, raped, and
killed by the Malays and Dayaks and 3,000 of them died in
the massacres, with the Indonesian government doing
little to stop the violence.[7]
In 2000, transmigrants made up 21% of the population in
Central Kalimantan.[3] The Dayaks are said to be
dissatisfied with the increased competition coming from
the more aggressive Madurese. New laws had allowed the
Madurese to assume control of many commercial
industries in the province, such as logging, mining, and
plantations.[3]
There are a number of stories purportedly describing the
incident that sparked the violence in 2001. One version
claims that it was caused by an arson attack on a Dayak
house. Rumours spread that the fire was caused by
Madurese, and later a group of Dayaks began burning
houses in a Madurese neighborhood.[5]
Professor Usop of the Dayak People's Association claims
that the massacres by the Dayaks were in self-defense,
after Dayaks were attacked.[8] It was claimed that a Dayak
was tortured and killed by a gang of Madurese following a
gambling dispute in the nearby village of Kerengpangi on
December 17, 2000.[9]
Another version claims that the conflict started in a brawl
between students of different races at the same school.[10]
Decapitations of Madurese[edit]
At least 300 Madurese were decapitated by the Dayaks
during the conflict. The Dayaks have a long history in the
ritual practice of headhunting, though the practice was
thought to have gradually died out in the early 20th
century as it was discouraged by the Dutch colonial
rulers.[8][11]
Response by authorities[edit]
The scale of the massacre and intensity of the aggression
made it difficult for the military and the police to control the
situation in Central Kalimantan. Reinforcements were sent
in to help existing military personnel in the province. By
February 18, the Dayaks assumed control over Sampit.[12]
Police arrested a local official believed to have been one
of the masterminds behind the attacks. The masterminds
are suspected of paying six men to provoke the riot in
Sampit. The police also arrested a number of Dayak
rioters following the initial murder spree.[13]
A few days later, on February 21, thousands of Dayaks
surrounded a police station in Palangkaraya demanding
the release of Dayak detainees. The Indonesian police
succumbed to this demand given that they were vastly
outnumbered by the aggressive Dayaks. By February 28,
the Indonesian military had managed to clear the Dayaks
off the streets and restore order,[14] but sporadic violence
continued throughout the year.

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Sampit conflict

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