Mien finds RI presence in pageant degrading

Mien finds RI presence in pageant degrading

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Women's Affairs Mien Sugandhi said
yesterday that the presence of a young Indonesian woman wearing a
swimsuit at the Miss Universe pageant in Las Vegas was
humiliating and debased the integrity of Indonesian women.

"If Alya Rohali, the Putri (Princess) Indonesia 1996, had gone
there as an observer, she would not have appeared that
'agreeable'," Mien was quoted by Antara as telling reporters.

Pictures of Alya, a 20-year-old law student from Jakarta, in a
swimsuit alongside other Miss Universe participants have appeared
in a number of newspapers in the last few days, once again
reviving controversy about the wisdom of pageant contests.

Yayasan Putri Indonesia, the foundation that selected Alya
last March among hundreds of hopeful contestants, has said it was
sending Alya as an "active observer" and not as a participant.

The term active observer means taking part in all the
activities without being judged, and therefore without a chance
of winning.

Minister Mien said she was particularly upset about Alya's
appearance in a swimsuit.

"We have agreed not to enter Indonesian women in pageant
contests which only emphasize body parts and beauty," she said.

Besides, Indonesia is still mourning the death of First Lady
Tien Soeharto, she said.

"Is it appropriate at a time like this? It's not even 40 days
since she passed away. How could anyone do this, showing off her
body in a pageant contest?"

Mien said she called a press conference because she had
received many phone calls about Alya's appearance in Las Vegas,
with some assuming Mien had condoned it. "I was never informed
about it, nor asked for my blessing," she stated.

Alya is not the first Indonesian woman to be sent to the Miss
Universe pageantry by Yayasan Putri Indonesia. The foundation
last year sent Susanti Manuhutu to the contest in Namibia, also
as an observer. There was no controversy then.

The government barred Indonesian women taking part in
international beauty contests in the early 1980s, objecting to
the requirement that participants must appear in swimsuits.

"Indonesia will not send any participant to any pageant
contests abroad for as long as they (the organizers) don't change
the regulations," Mien said.

A woman should be judged for her character and not solely for
her body, she added. (emb)