DENPASAR, Fuel shortage has been hitting Indonesia’s resort island of Bali over the last few days, causing an unusual view in which many empty-tanked vehicles are left unattended on streets. Motorists have left their cars and motorcycles with empty tanks on streets as many fuel outlets they came by no longer had gasoline or diesel fuel stocks, national Antara news agency reported Friday.

In few outlets, vehicles waiting in long lines to get more expensive fuel, high octane gasoline called Pertamax, the only fuel product available on the island. Pertamax sells at 8,300 rupiah (0.57 euro) per liter, almost double than low-octane gasoline that sells at a mere 4,500 rupiah (0.31 euro) per liter under government subsidy. Bali normally consumes 1.8 million liters of gasoline per day.
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JAKARTA,The leader of a secessionist group in Indonesia has been sentenced to life in prison for waving a separatist flag in front of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the nation’s president. The incident was a major embarrassment to the president as he was attending a government ceremony in Maluku in June last year.

A court spokesman said the leader of the separatist group, Johan Teterisa, was sentenced to life imprisonment on Thursday in the provincial capital of Ambon after being found guilty of treason. The harshness of the punishment reflects Indonesia’s sensitivity to separatist movements.
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