Jakarta, Sept. 3 -- Indonesia's Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai on Tuesday called on police and security forces to avoid excessive force when handling demonstrations, saying public protests are a constitutional right that must be protected.

Pigai said demonstrations reflect the opinions, thoughts and feelings of citizens, including students, pupils, members of the public and community groups.

"Law enforcement must not apply an approach of excessive use of force or excessive use of power," Pigai said at a news conference in Jakarta.

He urged police to take a progressive and dignified approach, relying on restorative justice when dealing with demonstrators who are only expressing aspirations.

For protesters who are detained, Pigai ...