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The Sambas Internal Displacement Story
The following is from
'In
the Time of Madness'
– an eyewitness account of the Sambas tragedy (Caution: this
report contains disturbing details that some may not wish to
read)
By the time of the Sambas tragedy in April of 1999, Madurese from the island of Madura had been
migrating to West Kalimantan for three or more generations in search of a better life. The
fertile soil, abundant water and many opportunities for farming
and business attracted many of them. They prospered, thrived
and received support from the Indonesian government.
Trouble preceded the Sambas outbreak as Madurese had already been
ethnically cleansed from other parts of West Kalimantan
previously. This
conflict was not rooted in religion, as the perpetrators of the
ethnic cleansing (the Dyacks and the Melayu tribes) were
Animist-Christian and Muslim respectively. Nor was the conflict
primarily triggered by economics, as the houses and goods of the Madurese were systematically burned rather than looted.
Eyewitness reports indicate that the local population had
grievances that had built over the years with the Madurese.
Local residents complained that the justice system had not been consistently implemented regarding conflicts involving Madurese and locals. Complaints
pointed to the refusal of the Madurese to integrate into local
society and to honour local traditions and customs (known by the
common Indonesian term 'adat').
In particular, when perceived wrongs were committed, it was
seen as necessary for local parties involved to restore public
harmony and peace by performing rituals and ceremonies connected
with traditional beliefs. Madurese pride of race and religion
alienated them from their neighbours.
In 1999, within a period of days, all of the Madurese residents
in the Sambas region were systematically killed or forced out of
town. Most of their homes and property were burnt. To this day, the Madurese have not felt safe,
nor have they been permitted to return to
Sambas – they simply are not welcome.
Having experienced such trauma, the survivors (about 100,000 in
all)
fled to the Kalimantan city of Pontianak, where some were housed in stadiums and
barracks and others stayed with relatives or friends in the
city. Many, when given the opportunity, boarded ships and returned
to Madura - some fled to other places in order to seek refuge and
find work.
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