Indonesia back in Miss Universe pageant after ban

Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post/Bangkok

The continuing violence in the southern Thailand failed to dampen the festive atmosphere surrounding a parade marking the start of the campaign to pick Miss Universe this year.

Indonesia's Artika Sari Devi, winner of Putri Indonesia (Miss Indonesia) in 2004, was spotted among the cheering crowd on Friday as she warmed up for the beauty contest.

"It is such a rare opportunity to meet and to know contestants from so many countries with their many different ethnicities and cultures," the 25-year old law graduate said.

The Soeharto government banned Indonesian women from competing in the international contest because the swimsuit competition in particular was cited as being against Indonesian culture and religious values. Criticism has somewhat faded -- and Artika says she plans to join the swimsuit session.

"I will wear the one-piece swimsuit instead of the skimpy two- piece one," she told The Jakarta Post at the Royal Navy pier where the parade ended.

Miss Indonesia 1996, Alya Rohali, took part in the Miss Universe event as an observer because she could not take part in the swimsuit event. While she was not in the competition, her attendance at the event still managed to draw some protests at home.

Artika, meanwhile, has repeatedly insisted she would compete in the pageant, arguing it was an opportunity for the world to learn more about Indonesia.

"It is a great opportunity to compete in such an international competition," she said on Friday. "So wish me luck."

The 81 beauties started the parade in floats decorated in the shape of Bangkok's Emerald Buddha temple. They switched to boats on the Chao Phraya River, and ended at the Thai navy's headquarters.

Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, accompanied by visiting Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, was scheduled to host a dinner for the contestants at the Navy Auditorium, on the Thonburi side of the Chao Phraya, the Deutsche Presse-Agentur reported on Friday.

The Miss Universe contest, held for the second time in Bangkok, also called "The City of Angels", will end on May 31. Thailand hopes to draw in at least 3.2 billion baht (US$82 million) in free advertising for its tsunami-ravaged tourism industry.

The contestants will spend two weeks in and around Bangkok and make a trip to Phuket in an effort to rebuild the tourism industry there affected by the Dec. 26 tsunami.

Miss Universe 2004 Jennifer Hawkins and contestants will also be involved in charity activities, including an auction on Sunday where each contestant donates a special "country item" to benefit Khun Poom Jensen's Foundation for Tsunami Relief.

Khun Jensen is the grandson of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit who were killed in the tsunami while jetskiing. He is also known in Thailand as a former autistic who recovered and managed to lead a dynamic life.

The contest began the same day as a powerful bomb exploded in the country's restive southern province, killing at least two soldiers and wounding eight, the government said.