SAMPIT, INDONESIA, 2001 The images show the victims of the Indonesian conflict, also known as the Sampit conflict or Sampit war. In total, the entire conflict claimed more than 500 lives.

The Sampit conflict, Sampit war or Sampit riots was an outbreak of inter-ethnic violence in Indonesia, which began in February 2001 and lasted throughout the year. The conflict began in the town of Sampit, Central Kalimantan, and spread throughout the province, including the capital, Palangka Raya. The conflict pitted the indigenous Dayak (Christianity) people against the Madurese (Sunni Islam) migrants from the island of Madura, off Java.

The conflict was triggered by the violence of the Madurese, who killed some Dayak and took control of Sampit, declaring it to be "the second Sampang," an important town on Madura. For several days, Madurese mobs attacked and killed the Dayak. In return, the Dayak beheaded hundreds of Madurese.

At least 300 Madurese were beheaded by the Dayak during the conflict. The Dayak have a long history of ritual headhunting, although it is believed that this practice gradually died out in the early 20th century when it was discouraged by the Dutch colonial rulers.

There are also reports that, in many cases, killers drank the blood of their victims, ripped out their hearts and ate them. A Dayak spokesman stated that, because of their anger and resentment against the Madurese settlers, "they do not recognize whether they are women or children. They only see them as animals to be destroyed." A Madurese survivor mourned her murdered children and grandchildren: "They cut off their heads and then butchered them and took them away to eat."