Soeharto back in the hospital

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)