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