Soeharto's health improving, aides say<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Former dictator Soeharto was reported on Sunday to be
\nrecuperating from an illness four days after being admitted to
\nthe state Pertamina Hospital.<\/p>\n
Numerous former government officials, who paid visits to
\nSoeharto's room in the \"VVIP section\" on the hospital's sixth
\nfloor, confirmed that the former president's condition was
\nimproving.<\/p>\n
\"Pak Harto's condition is getting better. He could talk and
\nrecognize me,\" Bismar Siregar, a former judge at the Supreme
\nCourt, said as quoted by Antara.<\/p>\n
When asked whether Soeharto's illness was part of any new
\nescape from answering to outstanding corruption cases involving
\nthe 83-year-old former strongman, Bismar said, \"God forgives, why
\ncan't humans?\"<\/p>\n
The hospital has issued no statements about Soeharto's
\ncondition. However, his lawyer, Mohammad Assegaf, said his client
\nwas hospitalized in connection with his anemia.<\/p>\n
Assegaf said the hospital was scheduled to hold a news
\nconference on Monday about Soeharto's health.<\/p>\n
The lawyer, who also acts for elderly Muslim cleric and
\nconvicted terror suspect Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, said Soeharto's
\nhealth condition was stable and that his life was not in danger.<\/p>\n
Former Army chief of staff Gen. (ret) Wismoyo Arismunandar,
\nwho spent almost an hour inside Soeharto's hospital room, said
\nSoeharto's blood-iron levels, which had been low, were improving.<\/p>\n
Business tycoon and Soeharto's former golfing buddy Muhammad
\n\"Bob\" Hasan, who was earlier jailed for six years for corruption
\noffenses, also visited the former president.<\/p>\n
\"I came here for a medical checkup,\" Hasan said when appearing
\nout of the hospital, where he underwent a hernia operation last
\nWednesday.<\/p>\n
Other visitors included Minister of Religious Affairs M.
\nMaftuh Basyuni and former Jakarta governor Ali Sadikin, who was
\none of Soeharto's staunchest critics.<\/p>\n
Ali told the waiting journalists outside Soeharto's room that
\nwhen he came in, the former autocrat was asleep and accompanied
\nby his two daughters, Siti \"Tutut\" Hardiyanti Rukmana and Siti
\nHedijati.<\/p>\n
Ali said he did not know what illness Soeharto was suffering
\nfrom.<\/p>\n
Nor did his family know when Soeharto would be discharged from
\nthe hospital, Ali added.<\/p>\n
He said his former political opponent was no longer hooked up
\nto blood transfusion equipment.<\/p>\n
Ali recalled that he met Soeharto for the last time last month
\nwhen the two attended an anniversary celebration of the Indonesia
\nin Miniature Park (Taman Mini) founded by his late wife, Tien
\nSoeharto.<\/p>\n
During that event, Soeharto appeared healthy and was able to
\nwalk unaided accompanied by several adjutants, along with his
\ndaughters and other guests.<\/p>\n
Soeharto, who ruled Indonesia for 32 years, has suffered a
\nnumber of health problems, including two strokes since being
\nforced to resign in 1998.<\/p>\n
He was indicted for alleged corruption but a panel of judges
\nruled he was unfit to stand trial because of health reasons.<\/p>\n
Doctors said Soeharto had suffered brain damage following
\nseveral strokes and claimed memory lapses and a speech impediment
\nmeant he could not answer prosecutors' questions.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/soehartos-health-improving-aides-say-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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