Bikini-clad beauty queens offend Thais
 

BANGKOK, Friday (Reuters)

Miss Universe organisers scrambled to calm a furore over photos of bikini-clad contestants posing near an ancient Buddhist temple in pageant host Thailand after the images infuriated religious leaders.

The photos, which showed beauty queens on a Bangkok river cruise with the famed Wat Arun, or “Temple of Dawn”, in the background, were swiftly removed from the pageant Web site.

But religious leaders and culture watchdogs are still upset, saying the episode violated traditional values and morality just days before a key Buddhist holiday.

“This is the time of Visakha Bucha when we are reminded of Lord Buddha’s teachings. But we have allowed this thing which will mark the country with sin for a long time,” Phra Thep Dilok, head of the National Center for Buddhism Promotion, told Reuters.

The chair of the Senate tourism committee, Suradech Yasawat, said the photos, which were splashed on the front pages of most Thai newspapers, had hurt the country’s image.

“It is completely inappropriate. When a contest is being held in Thailand, Thai traditions and culture should be respected,” he told the Thai News Agency.

About 90 percent of Thailand’s 63 million people are Buddhist and any slight against the religion can trigger a public outcry.

Pageant president Paula Shugart said the temple incident was unfortunate and would not happen again.