General information
Part of Conflict: n/a
First Battle Related Death: 1999-02-21
Date when dyad reached 25 battle releated deaths: 1999-03-19
Comment on date when dyad reached 25 battle related deaths: The non-state conflict between the Dayaks, Malay (Indonesia) and the Madurese is first included in UCDP data in 1999. In March of that year, violence between the warring parties had resulted in over 25 battle-related deaths.
Conflict issues
Annual information
This section contains annual information systematically collected by the UCDP.
1999
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 209 |
| Best | 172 |
| Low | 172 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Dayak, Malay (Indonesia)): n/a
Side B (Madurese): n/a
Dyad Archive
This section contains annual information no longer systematically collected by the UCDP.
1999 Dyad Archive
Comment on Yearly Battle Related Deaths: The official death-toll was 176. However, this number only covers deaths taking place between 16 March 1999 and 26 March 1999, not taking into account deaths occurring during the early stages of violence during February 2001. Further, the official death-toll also covers deaths resulting from the Indonesian military intervention, on 24 March 1999, which fall outside the scope of UCDP’s methodology. The best and high numbers, are, however, derived from this official count as well as event-based coding. The high number comes from various alternative sources, such as local or national newspapers.
Comment on Active: Violence between the Dayaks and the Madurese existed before 1999, and is covered under the Dayaks – Madurese dyad in the database . In 1999, however, the Malays joined alongside the Dayaks in fighting the Malays. The spark that set the events of 1999 into motion was the stabbing of a Malay bus conductor in Tebas, Sambas District of West Kalimantan on 21 January 1999 by a Madurese refusing to pay the fare. This event led to low-intensity sporadic fighting between Malays and Dayaks (that were already in conflict with the Madurese) against the Madurese in Tebas and the neighboring villages.
Fighting intensified significantly on 16 March 1999, when the Madurese killed a Dayak outside Pemangkat village. This event brought with it significant Dayak mobilization alongside the Malays. Further, Malay groups such as the Communication Forum of Malay Youth (FPKM) called the Malays to arms, demanding the expulsion or killing of Madurese. A series of battles and massacres ensued as a result of this mobilization, mainly taking place in the Sambas district, leading to over 160 deaths. During the course of these events, occurring between 16 March 1999 and 26 March 1999, the Dayaks and the Malays fought together, typically recognizing each-other through a series of common insignia such as headbands. Significant atrocities such as cannibalism and headhunting were reported throughout the period.
Fighting ended as a result of the intervention of the Indonesian military on 26 March 1999. As a result of the violence, most Madurese left Sambas, first for Pontianak, the capital of Western Kalimantan, under police protection, then for Madura or Java. By the end of May 1999, Sambas was practically devoid of Madurese, putting an end to the violence in the area.
Terminated: NO
