Hans David Tampubolon, Jakarta – Politicians from President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's Democratic Party have called the police's banning of a planned gay and lesbian congress in East Java as "unconstitutional".

"[Holding a congress] is part of every citizen's basic human rights," Benny Kabur Harman, chairman of the House of Representatives' justice and human rights commission, said Friday.

"Gays and lesbians are citizens whose political and legal rights are guaranteed and protected by the Constitution, which allows for freedom of opinion and freedom to associate. So the state should in no way forbid such a congress from being held.

"Any such prohibition is baseless. The state must instead protect gays and lesbians in their bid to host a peaceful congress."

Benny's colleague, Pieter Zulkifli, said the congress should be seen as "a celebration of democracy and human rights".

The congress was set to run from March 26 to 28, but was canceled by the police following complaints by local Muslim groups.