Ethnic violence between indigenous Dayaks and Mardurese migrants flared again in central Kalimantan on the island of Borneo. More than 200 died in the port city of Sampit and thousands were evacuated Feb. 24. Such violence is often vicious and triggered by Dayak animosity toward the migrants from nearby Madura who originally were settled in Kalimantan by the government as a way to relieve overcrowding. The plan created problems of its own, which erupt when inevitable disputes over land arise. Travel to Sampit and its vicinity should be avoided until order is restored.
