Sampit
Encyclopedia
Sampit is a town and a timber port on the Sampit River
in the Central Kalimantan
province in Indonesia
. It is the seat of East Kotawaringin regency. Sampit is the biggest timber port in all of Indonesia.
Sampit is also known as Sampit, Tanah Hevea. According to reported data as of August 2009, the estimated population of Sampit is 66,053. The average elevation of the town is 25 metres (82 ft).
and the Madurese during the Sampit conflict
which broke out on February 17, 2001 and lasted for 10 days. There are a number of stories purportedly describing the incident that sparked the violence in 2001. One version claims that it was caused by an arson
attack on a Dayak house. Rumours spread that the fire was caused by Madurese, and later a group of Dayaks began burning houses in a Madurese neighbourhood. Another version says that the massacre was triggered by an earlier incident in December 2000 when a Dayak man was killed by three Madurese.
In just two weeks 469 were reported to have been killed, of which 456 of them were Madurese. Virtually the entire Madurese people fled and "ethnic cleansing" has taken place in Sampit and surrounding areas, despite the Madurese previously forming about 60% of the population. However, according to a BBC
report , the overall picture of the conflict caused 500 deaths, with over 100,000 Madurese displaced from their homes. Many Madurese were also found decapitated by the Dayaks. Several hundreds of the immigrants fled from the area and moved by naval vessels to their homes in Madura island in East Java.
also called the "Mentaya River" is a river of Central Kalimantan in Borneo
. The river takes its name from the town of Sampit which is situated on the bank of river not too distant from the Java Sea
. The Schwaner mountain range extends with long hill ridges southwards, separating the major river systems of the area, most notably the Bukit Baka hill range which extends down to Sampit Bay. The area between the town of Sampit and the coast was historically heavily forested but has since been reduced due to road construction and development projects.
To the north of Sampit, on the road to Pangkalanbun, is an area of peat-swamp forest.
Sampit is 20 kilometres (12.4 mi) from the mouth of the river. Road networks connect to the capital cities of the regency and one such road is the Palangkaraya-Sampit-Purukcahu. However, river transport is the common transport for communications. Apart from navigational approach from the Java Sea and inland road network, Sampit also has the Sampit Airport
, also known as Hasan Airport, is a public airport
in Sampit, Central Kalimantan
, Indonesia
. Airline services are provided by the Kal Star Aviation to Banjarmasin
, Ketapang
, Pangkalan Bun and Pontianak, and the Merpati Nusantara Airlines
to Jakarta
and Surabaya
.
Pandaran Beach
This beach is located towards the sea side at the mouth of Sampat River. It is developed as a park. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that a river debouches in to the sea on its northern side while the Java Sea provides a wide expanse of water on its southern side.
Orchid Park of Pembuangan Hulu
The Orchid Park is part of the Pembuangan Hulu. It has a galaxy of orchid plants.
Sampit River (Indonesia)
Sampit River or Mentaya Riveris a river of Central Kalimantan, Borneo, Indonesia.The river takes its name from the town of Sampit which lies on the river not far from the Java Sea. Near the mouth of the river is a noted beack park named Pandaran Beach.The Sampit flows into the Java Sea at...
in the Central Kalimantan
Central Kalimantan
Central Kalimantan is a province of Indonesia, one of four in Kalimantan - the Indonesian part of the island of Borneo. Its provincial capital is Palangka Raya.The province has a population of just over 2.2 million at the 2010 Census...
province in Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
. It is the seat of East Kotawaringin regency. Sampit is the biggest timber port in all of Indonesia.
Sampit is also known as Sampit, Tanah Hevea. According to reported data as of August 2009, the estimated population of Sampit is 66,053. The average elevation of the town is 25 metres (82 ft).
History
Sampit town became known worldwide following inter-ethnic violent communal clashes between the DayaksDayak people
The Dayak or Dyak are the native people of Borneo. It is a loose term for over 200 riverine and hill-dwelling ethnic subgroups, located principally in the interior of Borneo, each with its own dialect, customs, laws, territory and culture, although common distinguishing traits are readily...
and the Madurese during the Sampit conflict
Sampit conflict
The Sampit conflict was an outbreak of inter-ethnic violence in Indonesia, beginning in February 2001 and lasting throughout the year. The conflict started in the town of Sampit, Central Kalimantan Province, and spread throughout the province, including the capital, Palangkaraya. The conflict was...
which broke out on February 17, 2001 and lasted for 10 days. There are a number of stories purportedly describing the incident that sparked the violence in 2001. One version claims that it was caused by an arson
Arson
Arson is the crime of intentionally or maliciously setting fire to structures or wildland areas. It may be distinguished from other causes such as spontaneous combustion and natural wildfires...
attack on a Dayak house. Rumours spread that the fire was caused by Madurese, and later a group of Dayaks began burning houses in a Madurese neighbourhood. Another version says that the massacre was triggered by an earlier incident in December 2000 when a Dayak man was killed by three Madurese.
In just two weeks 469 were reported to have been killed, of which 456 of them were Madurese. Virtually the entire Madurese people fled and "ethnic cleansing" has taken place in Sampit and surrounding areas, despite the Madurese previously forming about 60% of the population. However, according to a BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
report , the overall picture of the conflict caused 500 deaths, with over 100,000 Madurese displaced from their homes. Many Madurese were also found decapitated by the Dayaks. Several hundreds of the immigrants fled from the area and moved by naval vessels to their homes in Madura island in East Java.
Geography
Sampit lies in southern-mid Borneo on the banks of the Sampit RiverSampit River
The Sampit River begins in a swampy area of western Georgetown County, South Carolina, USA. It flows in an easterly direction to Winyah Bay at Georgetown. Only small crafts can navigate the upper parts of the river...
also called the "Mentaya River" is a river of Central Kalimantan in Borneo
Borneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
. The river takes its name from the town of Sampit which is situated on the bank of river not too distant from the Java Sea
Java Sea
The Java Sea is a large shallow sea on the Sunda Shelf. It was formed as sea levels rose at the end of the last ice age. The Java Sea lies between the Indonesian islands of Borneo to the north, Java to the south; Sumatra to the west, and Sulawesi to the east...
. The Schwaner mountain range extends with long hill ridges southwards, separating the major river systems of the area, most notably the Bukit Baka hill range which extends down to Sampit Bay. The area between the town of Sampit and the coast was historically heavily forested but has since been reduced due to road construction and development projects.
To the north of Sampit, on the road to Pangkalanbun, is an area of peat-swamp forest.
Sampit is 20 kilometres (12.4 mi) from the mouth of the river. Road networks connect to the capital cities of the regency and one such road is the Palangkaraya-Sampit-Purukcahu. However, river transport is the common transport for communications. Apart from navigational approach from the Java Sea and inland road network, Sampit also has the Sampit Airport
Sampit Airport
Sampit Airport , also known as Hasan Airport, is a public airport in Sampit, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. It is located on the island of Kalimantan, also known as Borneo.-Airlines and destinations:...
, also known as Hasan Airport, is a public airport
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
in Sampit, Central Kalimantan
Central Kalimantan
Central Kalimantan is a province of Indonesia, one of four in Kalimantan - the Indonesian part of the island of Borneo. Its provincial capital is Palangka Raya.The province has a population of just over 2.2 million at the 2010 Census...
, Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
. Airline services are provided by the Kal Star Aviation to Banjarmasin
Banjarmasin
Banjarmasin is the capital of South Kalimantan, Indonesia. It is located on a delta island near the junction of the Barito and Martapura rivers. As a result, Banjarmasin is sometimes called the "River City"...
, Ketapang
Ketapang
Ketapang is the capital city of Ketapang regency . Ketapang city is located, on the island of Borneo. It is a small city on the delta of the Pawan River. Ketapang regency is one of the regencies of West Kalimantan province in Indonesia. It occupies an area of 35,809 km²...
, Pangkalan Bun and Pontianak, and the Merpati Nusantara Airlines
Merpati Nusantara Airlines
Merpati Nusantara Airlines is a commuter airline based in Central Jakarta, Jakarta, Indonesia. It is a major domestic airline operating scheduled services to more than 25 destinations in Indonesia, as well as scheduled international services to East Timor and Malaysia. Its main base is...
to Jakarta
Jakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
and Surabaya
Surabaya
Surabaya is Indonesia's second-largest city with a population of over 2.7 million , and the capital of the province of East Java...
.
Landmarks
Important landmarks in the area are the Pandaran Beach at the mouth of the Sampit River, the Orchid Park of Pembuangan Hulu and hunting park of Kotawaringin at the border.Pandaran Beach
This beach is located towards the sea side at the mouth of Sampat River. It is developed as a park. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that a river debouches in to the sea on its northern side while the Java Sea provides a wide expanse of water on its southern side.
Orchid Park of Pembuangan Hulu
The Orchid Park is part of the Pembuangan Hulu. It has a galaxy of orchid plants.