Susilo visits ailing Soeharto

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Tuesday followed in the footsteps of several former critics, as well as aides of Soeharto by visiting the ailing ex-dictator at the state Pertamina hospital.

"This is absolutely a humanitarian responsibility that I must fulfill to respect a national leader who led our country in the past," Susilo said in a brief message after his 10-minute visit.

He arrived at the hospital in South Jakarta at around 4:50 p.m. accompanied by his spokesman, Andi Alfian Mallarangeng.

However, Susilo refused to comment on whether his government would push for a graft investigation into Soeharto as part of the President's national campaign to eradicate corruption.

"It is improper to ask such a question at a moment like this," Susilo said.

Soeharto, 83, was rushed to the hospital last Thursday suffering from continual intestinal bleeding.

Susilo said it was the responsibility of the government to look after Soeharto's health, adding that this also applied to other former presidents and vice presidents.

"It is a good tradition to execute such a humanitarian mission, to respect all leaders and our seniors. That is a good tradition, in my opinion, and we need to maintain it," he said on leaving the hospital.

Earlier on Tuesday, Pertamina Hospital director Sutji Astuti Maryono said the former president's condition was "much better" than the day before.

"He stopped receiving blood transfusions today (Tuesday) and the bleeding is less than yesterday," she said after visiting Soeharto in his "VVIP" room on the sixth floor.

She said there was now "just a little" intestinal bleeding and his red blood cell count was increasing, although it was not yet up to normal.

The former strongman was still being fed intravenously, Sutji added. "His condition is not yet stable. When it stabilizes, he will certainly be allowed to go home."

She said Soeharto's condition continued to be closely monitored by his doctors.

Before Susilo's arrival, several other prominent figures also came to visit Soeharto, including his former vice president, Try Soetrisno, and a number of senior politicians.

Earlier, a number of Soeharto's former aides and allies, as well as staunch critics, had visited the former authoritarian ruler. Among his critics were former Jakarta governor Ali Sadikin and People's Consultative Assembly Deputy Speaker A.M. Fatwa.

Besides Soetrisno, among the other public figures who visited Soeharto on Tuesday were Ahmad Farial and Endin Soefihara, both members of the United Development Party, former tourism, posts and telecommunications minister Joop Ave, former religious affairs minister Tarmizi Taher, former state minister for women's empowerment Sri Redjeki, former coordinating minister for political affairs and security Surono and actor Rae Sahetapy and his wife Iin Respati.

Soetrisno said that although still weak, Soeharto was able to talk haltingly and tell him who had come to visit him.

Asked about the demands for a graft probe into Soeharto, Soetrisno said that a person who was in ill health and had a medical certificate to prove it could not be brought to court.

"But if anyone wants to take him to court, Pak Harto is not afraid," he told reporters, adding that the former president himself had previously complied with summonses from the court and the Attorney General's Office.

"Pak Harto is not a coward," Soetrisno said.

Soeharto, who ruled the country for 32 years, has suffered a number of health problems, including two strokes, since he resigned the presidency in 1998 following violent pro-democracy riots.

He was indicted for allegedly misusing US$600 million through a complex web of tax-free charitable foundations he founded during his rule. However, the judges halted the trial in 2000 after doctors declared that he was unfit to stand trial because of brain damage caused by the strokes.

Last month, national media reported that Soeharto appeared quite healthy and was walking unaided during the anniversary celebrations for the Beautiful Indonesia in Miniature (TMII) theme park, which was founded by his late wife, Tien Soeharto. (004)