: While sources vary on the exact spark, many cite an incident on February 18, 2001 , involving the killing of a Dayak family or a dispute at a gambling den in late 2000. Rumors and mutual distrust quickly escalated the situation into a full-scale ethnic war. The Scale of the Tragedy
Tensions escalated following a gambling dispute in Kereng Pangi that left a Dayak man dead. February 18, 2001: video perang sampit dayak vs madura
In 2001, these tensions boiled over into violence in Sampit, a regency in Central Kalimantan rich in natural resources, particularly timber. The proximate cause of the conflict was a dispute over a piece of land and possibly economic factors, but it quickly escalated into ethnic violence. The conflict saw the burning of homes, schools, and other buildings, and there were reports of violence against civilians on both sides. : While sources vary on the exact spark,