Vaudine England, Jakarta – Lynchings of suspected thieves and violent eruptions of long-running neighbourhood disputes have claimed at least 30 lives in and around Jakarta this year in a sign of growing disrespect for the law.

A recent, typical example was that of 26-year-old Hermansyah, who was burned alive by angry residents of Poris in Tangerang, on the outskirts of Jakarta. Hermansyah was seen with two other men running away with a motorcycle. "Some of the residents screamed 'Thief! Thief!' Hundreds of people ran after the men ... two escaped, but one was burned to death," police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Zainuri Lubis said. The victim was badly beaten and then, as he lay on the ground, residents doused him in petrol and watched him burn alive.

An endemic conflict rages between gangs living either side of a major road in Jakarta. The Berlan gang and Palmeriam gang, separated by Jalan Matraman Raya, frequently clash in armed street battles, damaging shops and houses.

"We are angry with everyone – the Government, the Palmeriam gang, and anyone who supports our enemies," said Bes, a youth from Berlan, explaining a conflict that has continued, off and on, since the 1970s.

Eko, another Berlan youth, said: "If locals hear bells ringing and power poles being beaten non-stop, they will know it's time to come out of their houses equipped with machetes, swords, knives and iron bars, ready to fight." The investigation into the March 5 assassination attempt on Matori Abdul Djalil, head of the National Awakening Party, was foiled by the coincidental beating and burning to death of the suspect. Angry motorcycle-taxi drivers allegedly lynched the man, identified as Tarmo, for not paying for his ride, saying they were unaware he was suspected of shooting Djalil.

"We have yet to find a way of controlling the increase in vigilantism here," said Colonel Zainuri. "We have repeatedly told them, via the media, that they can only arrest the thieves and then hand them over to the police immediately. But they don't listen."

Reasons for the violence are not hard to find. About half the capital's 10 million people are homeless, millions are unemployed and those hit hardest are often young men with little better to do than hang out on street corners waiting for something to happen. In addition to gross disparities in wealth, the standard of police work is shockingly low, not only because of pervasive bribery but also the lack of training, equipment and detection skills.