Ex-strongman Soeharto admitted to hospital

Ex-strongman Soeharto admitted to hospital

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Former president Soeharto was admitted to the Pertamina
Hospital in South Jakarta on Friday suffering from an identified
illness.

The RCTI television broadcaster said the former strongman was
admitted to the hospital at about 4:30 p.m. Friday but it was not
clear what he was suffering from.

On the first day of the Idul Fitri holiday on Thursday, the
84-year-old Soeharto received hundreds of visitors including his
ardent critic and former president, Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid,
at his residence on Jalan Cendana, Central Jakarta.

Accompanied by his children, Soeharto was treated at room 604
on the sixth floor of the hospital.

The former president was earlier treated at the same hospital
six months ago for intestinal bleeding. He has had two strokes
since he was forced to resign in May 1998 after ruling the
country for 32 years.

It is a tradition, especially for public figures, to hold open
houses during the holiday.

Flanked by his children -- except his youngest son Tommy
Soeharto who is serving a jail term in Nusakambangan -- and his
in-laws, Soeharto received his guests while seated on a chair.

Apart from Gus Dur, public figures including former vice
president Try Sutrisno, former military commander Gen. Faisal
Tandjung, former army commander R. Hartono, House Speaker Agung
Laksono, former house speaker Akbar Tandjung, Governor of the
National Defense Institute Muladi, former state secretary
Moerdiono and businessmen Tong Djoe, Setiawan Djody, Rachmat
Gobel and Pontjo Sutowo were received.

Muladi said Soeharto looked well but did not talk much.

"He only smiled and thanked his guests for their visits,"
Muladi was quoted by Antara as saying.

Dandy Rukmana, a grandson of Soeharto, refused to comment on
Soeharto's health.

The normally talkative Gus Dur also refused to comment but his
daughter, Yenny Wahid, who accompanied her father said Soeharto
and Gus Dur had remained good friends.

Soeharto's neighbors and several orphan children were among
the visitors. They queued from the parking lot of the house to
it's veranda.

Unlike last year, security was not as strict at the residence.
Cars were parked along Jalan Cendana as guests flowed in at a
regular pace.