Soeharto back in the hospital<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Further speculation about the health of former
\npresident Soeharto was fueled on Saturday after he was rushed to
\nPertamina Hospital in South Jakarta for the second time in less
\nthan a month.<\/p>\n
Hospital officials said Soeharto, 78, needed immediate medical
\ntreatment for intestinal bleeding. He was hospitalized for 10
\ndays after a mild stroke in late July.<\/p>\n
Neurosurgeon Prof. Satyanegara was observed rushing in and out
\nof Soeharto's room on the sixth floor. There was no repeat of
\nofficials playing down his condition as "a general checkup",
\nwhich initially occurred after he was admitted in July.<\/p>\n
He arrived at about 9 a.m. in a green ambulance followed by
\ntwo Mercedes jeeps. He was admitted in a wheelchair.<\/p>\n
Soeharto received "the necessary medical treatment", hospital
\nspokesman Syahrir Mohammad told international and local media
\ngathered outside the hospital.<\/p>\n
"No, he did not fall in the bathroom. He has been feeling
\nuncomfortable since 5 a.m. today (Saturday).<\/p>\n
"He only needed immediate treatment. I cannot say whether
\nhe'll be released today or not. He now needs rest, however."<\/p>\n
Following a CAT scan and an endoscopic examination, Soeharto,
\nwearing an oxygen mask, was wheeled to Super VVIP Room No. 604,
\nthe same room he occupied last month.<\/p>\n
Soeharto, who ruled the country for 32 years until May 1998,
\nwas admitted to Pertamina Hospital on July 20. Hospital officials
\nand family members at first said he was visiting the hospital for
\na routine checkup. However, they admitted the following day that
\nhe suffered a mild stroke.<\/p>\n
Unconfirmed reports attributed to sources close to the family
\nsaid Soeharto slipped in a bathroom at his Jl. Cendana residence
\nafter suffering the stroke.<\/p>\n
After 10 days of intensive medical treatment, he left the
\nhospital on July 30. Doctors gave him a better than 50 percent
\nchance of full recovery.<\/p>\n
The hospital spokesman said the former first family paid Rp 54
\nmillion (US$6,750) for Soeharto's examination and his stay in the
\nhospital last month.<\/p>\n
"They paid the bills in cash," Syahrir said.<\/p>\n
With the exception of his second son Bambang Trihatmodjo, his
\nchildren were present at the hospital on Saturday.<\/p>\n
All family members and visitors, including former Cabinet
\nsecretary Saadilah Mursjid and Soeharto's lawyer Juan Felix
\nTampubolon who visited in the afternoon, declined to speak about
\nhis condition.<\/p>\n
Felix represents Soeharto and his six children amid several
\nongoing investigations into their alleged corruption. Acting
\nAttorney General Ismudjoko shocked many when he announced last
\nmonth that he would halt the investigation into Soeharto's
\nalleged corruption because of the former president's ill health.<\/p>\n
"We will delay the prosecution until he is 100 percent
\nhealthy," he said. "According to Article 77 of the Criminal Code,
\na prosecution is aborted if the suspect dies."<\/p>\n
Amid protests from students and the public concerning the
\nannouncement, Minister of Justice\/State Secretary Muladi prayed
\nfor Soeharto's recovery and his readiness to face prosecution.<\/p>\n
Unlike the tight security in effect during Soeharto's
\nhospitalization last month, only two plainclothes guards were
\nseen outside Soeharto's room on Saturday. Journalists and the
\ngeneral public were not hindered in using the hospital's
\nelevators.<\/p>\n
Soeharto, whose wife Tien died of a heart attack in 1996, has
\nsuffered from periods of poor health in recent years.<\/p>\n
He was forced to cancel two overseas trips in December 1997
\ndue to exhaustion.<\/p>\n
He also underwent a three-day medical checkup at a cardiac
\nhospital in the German spa town of Bad Oeynhausen in July 1996.<\/p>\n
Kidney stones were discovered during medical tests at Gatot
\nSubroto Hospital in 1994. (ylt)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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