Sampit conflict | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Part of the Post-Suharto era | ||||||||
| ||||||||
Belligerents | ||||||||
Dayak rioters | Madurese rioters | |||||||
Strength | ||||||||
32.000 in Sampit 1.500.000 in Central Kalimantan | 90.000 in Sampit | 4.000–5.000 in Central Kalimantan | ||||||
Casualties and losses | ||||||||
188 killed | 6 killed[4] |
The Sampit conflict, Sampit war or Sampit riots[5] was an outbreak of inter-ethnic violence in Indonesia, beginning in February 2001 and lasting through the year. The conflict started in the town of Sampit, Central Kalimantan, and spread throughout the province, including the capital Palangka Raya. The conflict took place between the indigenous Dayak people and the migrant Madurese people from the island of Madura off Java.[6]
The conflict was ignited by aggressive acts of violence on the part of the Madurese, who murdered some Dayak people and took control of Sampit, declaring that it is "the second Sampang," which means "the second Madura." For several days, Madurese mobs attacked and killed Dayak people. As a counter action, hundreds of Madurese were eventually decapitated by the Dayak.[7][8]