Indonesia's Artika Sari Devi, winner of Putri Indonesia (Miss Indonesia) in 2004, has joined the campaign for Miss Universe in Thailand this year after decades of ban against such a contest in the world most populous Muslim nation.

"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 was quoted Saturday by The Jakarta Post newspaper as saying.

The Soeharto government (1966-1998) 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 said.

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 drew some protests at home.

Artika, meanwhile, has repeatedly insisted she would compete in the pageant, arguing it is 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."