Suharto’s health ‘improving’

Former Indonesian president responds to dialysis but remains in critical condition.

Suharto
Suharto, the former Indonesian president,  has  refused to go overseas for treatment [EPA]
But he said Suharto was “still in critical condition because his blood pressure could drop at any time”.

Suharto was also receiving a blood transfusion and needs a second pacemaker, doctors said.

Suharto ruled the world’s fourth-most populous country for 32 years, stepping down in 1998 amid political upheaval and an economic crisis that triggered widespread opposition to his government.

Health problems
 
Suharto

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Born June 8, 1921

Served as general in Indonesian army

Seized power from Indonesia’s first president Sukarno in 1965

Established ‘New Order’ government characterised by strong central government and repression of dissent

Forced to resign in 1998 amid widespread protests triggered by Asian financial crisis

Suharto has been hospitalised on a number of occasions in recent years suffering from various problems, including intestinal bleeding and strokes.

 
Djoko Rahardjo, Suharto’s chief physician, said the former president was conscious but his condition was worse than on previous occasions.
 
“We are trying our best,” he said, adding that Suharto had told his family he did not want to be taken overseas for treatment.
 
Suharto, who came to power after a botched 1965 coup attempt that was blamed on communists, has lived in seclusion in Jakarta’s Menteng neighbourhood since he stepped down.
 
After he was pushed from power, Suharto was put on trial on charges of embezzling hundreds of millions of dollars in state money, but the government dropped the case due to his poor health.

However, a civil suit is currently being heard over the charges.

Source: News Agencies