Frustrating blackout

If -- as Minister I.B. Sudjana now tells us, in contradiction to his earlier statement -- the big blackout had been planned four days in advance, why on earth couldn't PLN (the state-owned electricity company) forewarn the public by announcing it on TV, on radio and in the press?

That would have given people a chance to plan their lives accordingly and would have minimized the public's feelings of anger and frustration. A premeditated blackout with no prior warning is wholly unacceptable.

JAMES RICHARDS

Jakarta