The conflict was sparked by a brawl between a Dayak and a Madurese that resulted in the death of a Madurese man. This incident triggered a wave of violence against the Madurese population in Sampit, with reports of widespread attacks, killings, and the burning of homes and buildings. Many Madurese people were forced to flee the area.
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The Sampit War was not an isolated incident, but rather the culmination of years of tension and conflict between the Dayak and Madurese people in the region. The Dayak people, who are predominantly Christian, have long been the indigenous inhabitants of the region, while the Madurese people, who are predominantly Muslim, began to migrate to the region in the 1960s. The conflict was sparked by a brawl between