Soeharto off to Europe for checkup

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto left for an undisclosed European country last night for a routine medical checkup.

Seeing off the President were Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono, Minister/Cabinet Secretary Saadilah Mursyid and Jakarta military commander Maj. Gen. Sutiyoso.

He was accompanied by four of his six children: Siti Hardijanti Rukmana, Sigit Hardjojudanto, Siti Hediati Prabowo and Siti Hutami Endang Adiningsih, Antara reported.

Soeharto's third son, Bambang Trihatmodjo, was seen among the few close relatives and officials escorting the President, while his youngest son, Hutomo Mandala Putra, was not present.

As the Garuda Indonesia Airways' MD-11 airplane that carried the President took off at 9:13 p.m., there remained no official statement as to the country of destination.

Foreign news agencies reported over the weekend that the President went to Frankfurt, Germany, for examination of heart and liver problems.

The President, who performed no official duties on Saturday, played a two hour, nine-hole golf round in the morning, the Republika daily said.

Meanwhile, the Jawa Pos newspaper quoted Indonesian timber tycoon Mohammed `Bob' Hasan, who played golf with the President, as saying Soeharto looked healthy and "really enjoyed the golf game".

Moerdiono said on Friday that the President would go to Europe for medical examinations, while stressing that he was in "good health." No official statement has been made since then.

In August 1994, Soeharto underwent a number of medical tests at the Gatot Soebroto Army Hospital, where it was discovered he had kidney stones. The doctors later gave him a clean bill of health.

Moerdiono had said that only a small staff entourage would accompany Soeharto and that no ministers would be included.

He also said he could not determine when the President would arrive back in Indonesia. (imn)