Only family members fete Soeharto on birthday

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Former president Soeharto celebrated his 83rd birthday on Tuesday, with only five of his six children, grandchildren and a number of his lawyers arriving to greet him.

No former officials nor businessmen came to congratulate him at Jl. Cendana No. 8, Central Jakarta.

However, dozens of bouquets of flowers (see picture) from relatives and former colleagues were delivered to the house, which appeared quiet from the outside.

Soeharto's youngest son, Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra, was absent from Tuesday's celebration as he is still serving a 15- year jail sentence at the maximum security prison on Nusakambangan island, Central Java, for ordering the murder of a judge who had convicted him of corruption.

"Tommy just sent flowers to his father's home," a personal aide to Soeharto said.

Unlike in previous years, students did not stage rallies near the residential compound. Over the past five years, hundreds of students have staged demonstrations at the compound demanding that law enforcers resurrect the prosecution of the aging figure for abuse of power during his time in power.

A personal aide, who declined to be identified, told Agence France-Presse on Tuesday that no special events had been scheduled, but the family would hold a small gathering later in the evening.

"As a man who has gone through a long historical journey, he is happy that he can celebrate his 83rd birthday," the aide was quoted by AFP as saying.

"Soeharto received birthday kisses from his children and grandchildren," he added.

Soeharto has suffered a number of health problems since being forced to step down in May 1998 after 32 years of authoritarian rule. Last month he was treated in hospital for more than a week for intestinal bleeding.

He received treatment in 1999 for a minor stroke and in 2002 for heart and lung problems.

Since his resignation, Soeharto has lived quietly in the family housing complex. He has escaped trial for alleged graft as doctors say a stroke he suffered has left him mentally incapable of following court proceedings.

The Transparency International group in March ranked Soeharto as the most corrupt world leader in recent world history, alleging that his family had amassed between US$15 billion and $35 billion in ill-gotten gains.