Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08JAKARTA33
2008-01-07 09:35:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Jakarta
Cable title:
SUHARTO: FORMER PRESIDENT IN CRITICAL BUT STABLE
how-toVZCZCXRO5928 OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHJA #0033 0070935 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 070935Z JAN 08 FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7571 INFO RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS PRIORITY RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 4622 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 1847 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 1386 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON PRIORITY 2220 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHHJJPI/USPACOM HONOLULU HI
UNCLAS JAKARTA 000033
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS
NSC FOR E.PHU
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ID
SUBJECT: SUHARTO: FORMER PRESIDENT IN CRITICAL BUT STABLE
CONDITION
REF: EMBASSY JAKARTA - OPS-CENTER TELCONS 1/5/2008
UNCLAS JAKARTA 000033
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS
NSC FOR E.PHU
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ID
SUBJECT: SUHARTO: FORMER PRESIDENT IN CRITICAL BUT STABLE
CONDITION
REF: EMBASSY JAKARTA - OPS-CENTER TELCONS 1/5/2008
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Former Indonesian President Suharto remains
hospitalized in critical but stable condition after his
physical condition deteriorated sharply on Saturday, January
5. The media and public are closely following his condition.
Suharto's supporters have called for the Indonesian
government to halt an outstanding corruption case against
him; opponents have rejected the appeal. END SUMMARY
2. (SBU) RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL: Former Indonesian President
Suharto was hospitalized late Friday, January 4, after
complaining of severe fatigue for several days. For several
hours Suharto's life appeared to hang in the balance as his
blood circulation to vital organs became sharply impaired.
After visiting Suharto on January 5, President Yudhoyono
appeared on television and told the nation former president's
condition was critical. A parade of Indonesia's political
elite visited him in the hospital.
3. (SBU) STABILIZED: A team of 40 physicians treated the
86-year old former ruler throughout the weekend for anemia
and severe edema (swelling of internal organs). After a
blood transfusion and dialysis, Suharto's condition improved
but was still listed as critical. He is now reportedly able
to communicate, but doctors have kept him on medication and
may install a new pacemaker. He remains in intensive care at
Jakarta's Pertamina Hospital.
4. (SBU) A HISTORY OF AILMENTS: The aging Suharto has
battled a string of illnesses since leaving power in 1998.
In July 1999, he suffered the first of a series of strokes,
and doctors installed a pacemaker in 2001 to correct an
irregular heartbeat. He has also suffered from intestinal
bleeding, hypertension and chronic anemia. In 2006,
Suharto's lawyers blocked an attempt to prosecute him for
corruption by arguing that he was too ill to stand trial.
5. (SBU) CIVIL SUIT HANGS IN BALANCE: The Indonesian media
has covered Suharto's current illness in great detail and
many public figures, including some former political
adversaries, have spoken warmly of his contributions to the
nation. Agung Laksono, Speaker of the National Assembly
(DPR) and Chairman of the Golkar party, which Suharto
created, has called on the government to drop a civil case
against Suharto. (Note: While a criminal case against
Suharto was halted in 2006, a civil case continues seeking to
recover $1.4 billion in state funds allegedly diverted to his
private foundation, Supersemar.) Former president
Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur) rejected the appeal and called
upon the Attorney General to continue the civil case.
HUME
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS
NSC FOR E.PHU
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ID
SUBJECT: SUHARTO: FORMER PRESIDENT IN CRITICAL BUT STABLE
CONDITION
REF: EMBASSY JAKARTA - OPS-CENTER TELCONS 1/5/2008
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Former Indonesian President Suharto remains
hospitalized in critical but stable condition after his
physical condition deteriorated sharply on Saturday, January
5. The media and public are closely following his condition.
Suharto's supporters have called for the Indonesian
government to halt an outstanding corruption case against
him; opponents have rejected the appeal. END SUMMARY
2. (SBU) RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL: Former Indonesian President
Suharto was hospitalized late Friday, January 4, after
complaining of severe fatigue for several days. For several
hours Suharto's life appeared to hang in the balance as his
blood circulation to vital organs became sharply impaired.
After visiting Suharto on January 5, President Yudhoyono
appeared on television and told the nation former president's
condition was critical. A parade of Indonesia's political
elite visited him in the hospital.
3. (SBU) STABILIZED: A team of 40 physicians treated the
86-year old former ruler throughout the weekend for anemia
and severe edema (swelling of internal organs). After a
blood transfusion and dialysis, Suharto's condition improved
but was still listed as critical. He is now reportedly able
to communicate, but doctors have kept him on medication and
may install a new pacemaker. He remains in intensive care at
Jakarta's Pertamina Hospital.
4. (SBU) A HISTORY OF AILMENTS: The aging Suharto has
battled a string of illnesses since leaving power in 1998.
In July 1999, he suffered the first of a series of strokes,
and doctors installed a pacemaker in 2001 to correct an
irregular heartbeat. He has also suffered from intestinal
bleeding, hypertension and chronic anemia. In 2006,
Suharto's lawyers blocked an attempt to prosecute him for
corruption by arguing that he was too ill to stand trial.
5. (SBU) CIVIL SUIT HANGS IN BALANCE: The Indonesian media
has covered Suharto's current illness in great detail and
many public figures, including some former political
adversaries, have spoken warmly of his contributions to the
nation. Agung Laksono, Speaker of the National Assembly
(DPR) and Chairman of the Golkar party, which Suharto
created, has called on the government to drop a civil case
against Suharto. (Note: While a criminal case against
Suharto was halted in 2006, a civil case continues seeking to
recover $1.4 billion in state funds allegedly diverted to his
private foundation, Supersemar.) Former president
Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur) rejected the appeal and called
upon the Attorney General to continue the civil case.
HUME