AS in the past, kerosene has once again disappeared in a number of areas. Every time the government raises the price of fuel, kerosene seems to disappear back into the bowels of the earth. Even if consumers can get hold of it, the price is astronomical—way above the government approved rate. A number of preventive steps taken by Pertamina to forestall such moves apparently did not work.

Last May, Pertamina tried to dye different colors