Alatas is recovering but still needs rest

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas is writing memorandums to his staff from his hospital bed where he has been treated for a minor heart attack for the last two weeks.

The ministry's chief spokesman Irawan Abidin told The Jakarta Post yesterday that Alatas is expected to be discharged from the Medistra Hospital sometime within the week, but it is not certain when he will return to the office.

"But he has already started giving memorandums from his bed. The earliest one that I received was dated last Saturday," he said. He added that it won't be long before Alatas is heard again at the office.

Alatas, 61, entered Medistra Hospital's Intensive Cardiac Care Unit two weeks ago and was removed to a private room last week.

The doctors ordered him to have two weeks of complete rest.

He has since been recuperating with the support of his wife, who visits him everyday and receives the continuous flow of guests.

The hospital's public relations officer, Roos Jusuf Razak, said she was not informed yet on when Alatas would be leaving the hospital. "He is doing very well, but the doctors still need to make some final check-ups, which may need some time," she said.

The hospital was still required to limit the number of guests Alatas was allowed to see since he needed plenty of rest.

Roos said that most of the guests were officials from the diplomatic corps and fellow ministers.

"Every evening there are ministers visiting him," she said. (pwn)