Jakarta. Indonesian police have charged seven social media activists with inciting violence during nationwide protests that have left at least 10 people dead and triggered widespread unrest.

Among those charged is Laras Faizati, 26, accused of urging demonstrators to set fire to the National Police Headquarters in Jakarta. “She created and uploaded Instagram content inciting protesters to burn down the police headquarters,” said Brigadier General Himawan Bayu Aji, head of the National Police’s cybercrime division, during a press conference on Wednesday.

Police arrested Laras on September 1, seizing her mobile phone before placing her in custody. According to investigators, the video was posted while demonstrations were taking place outside the police headquarters. Six other activists, aged 20 to 39 and active on platforms including TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram, also face charges. Six are currently detained, while one remains free pending investigation.

The unrest, which spread across multiple cities over the past week, has proven deadly. At least 10 people were killed, either due to police crackdowns or mob violence. In Makassar, three people died and another was critically injured after being trapped inside a provincial parliament building set ablaze by protesters.

In Jakarta, a motorcycle taxi driver was run over and killed by a police armored vehicle in the middle of the crowds, an incident that sparked solidarity rallies in other cities and deepened the crisis. What began as demonstrations against lawmakers’ salary allowances has since escalated into broader unrest targeting symbols of authority.

The violence has also reached senior officials. Last weekend, demonstrators looted the homes of four lawmakers as well as that of Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati.

Beyond the social media charges, police across 15 provinces have arrested more than 3,100 demonstrators, with 55 facing criminal charges. Thousands more remain under investigation, though some have since been released. Jakarta recorded the highest number of arrests with 1,240 people detained, followed by East Java (709), Central Java (653), West Java (147), and Bali (138).

Authorities say the crackdown underscores both the scale of the unrest and the role of online content in escalating protests that have spiraled into violence and destruction.

Add as a preferred source on Google +