The Miss Universe Controversy
After nine years of absence, Indonesia is competing in the Miss Universe contest being held in Thailand, triggering protests in Jakarta.
May 24, 2005
ARTIKA Sari Devi, Miss Indonesia 2005, flew to Thailand to take part in the Miss Universe beauty pageant. As her sponsor, Yayasan Putri Indonesia (YPI), the foundation headed by former Education Minister Wardiman, felt no need to ask the government's permission. The reason was that it is strictly a private sector enterprise, hence no permission was required, particularly in this day and age of globalization. Yet Wardiman and the organizers of
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