No newspapers, readers alienated

MANADO, North Sulawesi: Thousands of people in Manado, the capital of North Sulawesi province, have felt alienated in their daily environment following the unavailability of local newspapers over the last four days.

They said they felt alienated from the outside world and lost something important in their daily activities.

Former councillor Berty Pontoh said that he felt like he was in jail since he did not know what was happening in the province, other provinces, Jakarta and overseas, since no newspapers were available due to the extended holiday.

Harian Komentar, Manado Post and Harian Kosmo dailies stopped publication since last Sunday and would publish again on Nov. 22.

Heskiel Laira, a lecturer at a private institute, said he watched entertainment programs on private stations but their news service was not in detail.

"The same thing has also happened in other provinces," he added. --Antara