Former Indonesian dictator Suharto lies on his hospital bed after undergoing a scan at Jakarta's Pertamina hospital on January 8. Suharto's health has improved slightly as Indonesian workers scurried to prepare for his possibly imminent burial. (AFP/The President Post/File/Yaumil Fadhil)JAKARTA (Reuters) - The health of former president Suharto, Indonesia's strongman ruler for more than three decades, deteriorated further on Friday evening, a doctor said, and more family members rushed to the hospital where he is being treated.
Suharto, 86, was taken to Jakarta's Pertamina hospital a week ago suffering from anaemia and low blood pressure due to heart, lung and kidney problems. His health worsened on Friday as doctors said he appeared to have a lung infection.
"His condition is worse, it is more critical than previously. We are trying to do the best we can," a member of the medical team treating Suharto told Reuters, asking not to be named.
The former general has been critically ill for several days, receiving blood transfusions and undergoing haemodialysis to drain excess fluid from his body.
"We are closely monitoring for a possible infection because there are preliminary signs of inflammation" in Suharto's lungs, Hadiarto Mangunnegoro, a lung specialist, told a news conference.
"We have given him treatment to prevent that, including giving him antibiotics and anti-inflammation medicine. Hopefully it will not happen. If it does, it will make things worse."
Suharto was forced to quit in 1998 in the face of mounting student protests, political chaos and economic crisis. He was charged with embezzling hundreds of millions of dollars of state funds, but the government later dropped the case due to his poor health.
He and his family deny any wrongdoing.
Hutomo Mandala Putra, Suharto's youngest son who also faces graft charges and who served time in prison for ordering the murder of a judge, told reporters at the hospital on Friday that his father's condition had not improved.
"On behalf of our family, we would like to thank fellow countrymen who have prayed for his recovery. For those who did so, hopefully you will receive something good in return," he said. "The most important thing is that he gets better."
Suharto began his rise to power in 1965 by leading the military to put down what was officially termed an attempted communist coup. Up to 500,000 were killed in the anti-communist purge that followed.
Many human rights violations under Suharto's rule, in Aceh, Papua, East Timor and elsewhere, were linked to the armed forces.
On Friday a group of 20 people belonging to a solidarity group for victims of human right violations in the Suharto era gathered at Pertamina hospital bearing banners with the words "Put Soeharto on trial" and a huge bouquet wishing him well.
Most said that they wished for Suharto's recovery, but that humanity and justice were two different things.
"For now, we hope Suharto will recover soon," said Usman Hamid, head of human rights NGO Kontras.
"But in regards to his legal status, a thorough consideration needs to be made taking into account his services to this nation and crimes he committed in the past and the one with the authority to decide on that is the court."
Some Indonesians, though, look back with nostalgia to the Suharto era, when Indonesia was one of Asia's tiger economies, and refer to him fondly as the "Father of Development".
The sudden deterioration in his health last weekend prompted some senior politicians to call for legal proceedings against him to be dropped. But the attorney-general said on Monday his office would press ahead with a civil case.
Suharto, 86, was taken to Jakarta's Pertamina hospital a week ago suffering from anaemia and low blood pressure due to heart, lung and kidney problems. His health worsened on Friday as doctors said he appeared to have a lung infection.
"His condition is worse, it is more critical than previously. We are trying to do the best we can," a member of the medical team treating Suharto told Reuters, asking not to be named.
The former general has been critically ill for several days, receiving blood transfusions and undergoing haemodialysis to drain excess fluid from his body.
"We are closely monitoring for a possible infection because there are preliminary signs of inflammation" in Suharto's lungs, Hadiarto Mangunnegoro, a lung specialist, told a news conference.
"We have given him treatment to prevent that, including giving him antibiotics and anti-inflammation medicine. Hopefully it will not happen. If it does, it will make things worse."
Suharto was forced to quit in 1998 in the face of mounting student protests, political chaos and economic crisis. He was charged with embezzling hundreds of millions of dollars of state funds, but the government later dropped the case due to his poor health.
He and his family deny any wrongdoing.
Hutomo Mandala Putra, Suharto's youngest son who also faces graft charges and who served time in prison for ordering the murder of a judge, told reporters at the hospital on Friday that his father's condition had not improved.
"On behalf of our family, we would like to thank fellow countrymen who have prayed for his recovery. For those who did so, hopefully you will receive something good in return," he said. "The most important thing is that he gets better."
Suharto began his rise to power in 1965 by leading the military to put down what was officially termed an attempted communist coup. Up to 500,000 were killed in the anti-communist purge that followed.
Many human rights violations under Suharto's rule, in Aceh, Papua, East Timor and elsewhere, were linked to the armed forces.
On Friday a group of 20 people belonging to a solidarity group for victims of human right violations in the Suharto era gathered at Pertamina hospital bearing banners with the words "Put Soeharto on trial" and a huge bouquet wishing him well.
Most said that they wished for Suharto's recovery, but that humanity and justice were two different things.
"For now, we hope Suharto will recover soon," said Usman Hamid, head of human rights NGO Kontras.
"But in regards to his legal status, a thorough consideration needs to be made taking into account his services to this nation and crimes he committed in the past and the one with the authority to decide on that is the court."
Some Indonesians, though, look back with nostalgia to the Suharto era, when Indonesia was one of Asia's tiger economies, and refer to him fondly as the "Father of Development".
The sudden deterioration in his health last weekend prompted some senior politicians to call for legal proceedings against him to be dropped. But the attorney-general said on Monday his office would press ahead with a civil case.
4 comments:
We pray for your swift recuperation.
Khmer forever! Yuon out of Cambodia!
There is no miracle in this case. It's time for him to go. Life is not so bad for him.
Ah Hun Sen should look harder to this image. Ah Hun Khvack will be getting the same as this animal.
my condolences to his family; this serves as a remind that no one on this planet can live forever, but a nation can exist to eternity; so help preserve our Khmer language and nation by working together. Khmers can argue over differences of political parties and opinions during debate and election, but remember to work or come together after the election is over. It is no use to call each other's name because no know is perfect; instead Cambodia should focus on working and sharing with each other (we are of the same race, same language, etc)and ought to work together for our nation's prosperity and higher standard of living. Cambodians are not evil people, please work together for our nation's benefit. Thank you
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