Auction for 100-island Indonesian archipelago delayed after backlash

The ecologically significant Widi Reserve near Bali was set to be auctioned off on Dec 8 but has now been postponed to late January. - Sotheby’s

JAKARTA (AFP): An auction for development rights to an eastern Indonesian archipelago of more than 100 islands has been delayed until January, Sotheby's said, days after backlash broke out over the sale.

The Widi Reserve is part of the Coral Triangle, the most biodiverse marine area on Earth, which passes through six countries, including the Philippines, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.