Former Indonesian dictator Suharto moved his hands and spoke in a whisper Sunday in what doctors called a "miraculous" recovery from a potentially fatal blood infection after more than two weeks on life support.
Suharto, 86, was hospitalized Jan. 4 with severe kidney, lung and heart trouble. His condition deteriorated rapidly a week ago when he developed pneumonia and sepsis, a blood infection particularly dangerous for the elderly.
Preparations had begun for a state funeral, the family mausoleum was put in order and passes were handed out to the media for a memorial service after his heart briefly stopped.
"We are amazed that he has come back from alarming stages several times," said Dr. Marjo Subiandono, a member of Suharto's medical team. "We believe he has a strong will to live, maybe because he trained as a soldier and was a real fighter."
Although Suharto remains in intensive care, he whispered Sunday in response to questions and lifted his hands to scratch. Doctors say his heart and lungs are stable, and is ready to begin basic physiotherapy and speech training.
Dr. Hadiarto Mangunegoro, a physician treating Suharto, called his recovery "miraculous because he has survived sepsis, which is life threatening." Doctors treated the blood infection with antibiotics.
Suharto led a regime widely regarded as one of the 20th century's most brutal and corrupt for 32 years until he was toppled in May 1998 amid massive pro-democracy street protests. Since then, he has lived a reclusive life in a comfortable villa in downtown Jakarta.
Between 300,000 and 800,000 alleged communist sympathizers were killed during his rise to power from 1965 to 1968, a spasm of violence led by the Indonesian army and conservative Muslim groups.
His troops killed another 300,000 in military operations against independence movements in Papua, Aceh and East Timor, while hundreds of thousands of others were jailed without trial or disappeared. No one has been punished for the killings.
Suharto's current hospital stay — one of several in recent years following strokes and intestinal bleeding — stirred fresh debate about the role of justice in an impoverished country with a notoriously corrupt judiciary.
A few victims and students have demonstrated for him to stand trial, but the political elite led popular calls for forgiveness.
"I believe Indonesians want him to recover and prayed for him," said Murdiono, who served as a minister in Suharto's Cabinet. "It is a miracle. Thank God. He remains a hero and his services to this country deserve to be recognized."
For years, Suharto's lawyers have successfully argued that he was too sick to stand trial on charges of embezzling billions from the people. State prosecutors are pressing ahead with a $1.5 billion civil suit, but nothing has ever been recovered.
Transparency International, an anti-graft organization, ranks Suharto among the most corrupt leaders of recent history, saying he amassed up to $35 billion in stolen state funds and private wealth.
Suharto's inner circle became fabulously wealthy under his leadership and critics say he escaped prosecution thanks to weak courts and a network of political and military loyalists who fear they could be implicated if he were to take the stand.
Indonesia, a predominantly Muslim nation of 235 million, is still recovering from the 1997-1998 Asian financial crisis, with around a quarter of the population living on less than $2 a day.
Linkback:
https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=8765.0
