Soeharto's health remains poor

Soeharto's health remains poor

JAKARTA: Former president Soeharto's health condition has
steadily improved but is still poor, former women's affairs
minister during Soeharto's rule, Mien Sugandhi said on Sunday.

Sugandhi was one of a handful of people to visit Soeharto who
is reportedly suffering from colon problems which are causing
internal bleeding. There has been blood in his stools since last
Wednesday.

The surrounding area of the residence of Soeharto was
relatively quiet on Sunday with no special guards being seen in
the area. Journalists, who were waiting for the latest news of
Soeharto's health condition, were gathered outside.

Soeharto's eldest daughter Siti Hardiyanti 'Tutut' Rukmana
said the former president's poor health was partly caused by news
his youngest son Hutomo 'Tommy' Mandala Putra was being tried for
murder.

Tommy was finally arrested in November last year after a year
on the run evading an 18-month jail term for being found guilty
of corruption in a land swap deal between his company PT Goro
Batara Sakti and the National Logistics Agency (Bulog).

Soeharto, who was forced to step down in 1998 after ruling the
country for 32 years, has been admitted to hospital several times
for various health problems, including arteriosclerosis and an
unstable blood pressure. -- Antara