Former Indonesian dictator Suharto was "weak" from internal bleeding that has continued despite a blood transfusion and may undergo surgery, one of his doctors said yesterday.
Suharto, 84, was rushed to Jakarta's Pertamina hospital late on Thursday with intestinal bleeding.
"The condition of Suharto has not been stabilized. We are trying to stem the bleeding and giving a gradual transfusion" to increase his level of red blood cells, Mardjo Subiandono told a press conference.
Subandiono later said that doctors would carry out surgery if the bleeding persisted.
"He is weak because of anemia but he can recognize people around him. If his condition is not managed carefully, there will be complications," Subiandono said.
The medical team initially plans to conduct a colonoscopy, an examination of the large colon with a fibre-optic camera, the doctor said.
"He always refuses the procedure because it's uncomfortable, but this time we'll insist," he said.
Suharto was also suffering lung inflammation and had trouble swallowing.
The former autocrat has been hospitalized several times in the past for intestinal bleeding, stroke and heart problems.
On Wednesday, he met with former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohammed, an old friend, at his private residence in the capital Jakarta, and he appeared relatively well to waiting media although he did not speak to them.
Suharto ruled Indonesia with an iron grip for 32 years, stepping down amid mounting unrest in 1998.
DETERRENCE: With 1,000 indigenous Hsiung Feng II and III missiles and 400 Harpoon missiles, the nation would boast the highest anti-ship missile density in the world With Taiwan wrapping up mass production of Hsiung Feng II and III missiles by December and an influx of Harpoon missiles from the US, Taiwan would have the highest density of anti-ship missiles in the world, a source said yesterday. Taiwan is to wrap up mass production of the indigenous anti-ship missiles by the end of year, as the Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology has been meeting production targets ahead of schedule, a defense official with knowledge of the matter said. Combined with the 400 Harpoon anti-ship missiles Taiwan expects to receive from the US by 2028, the nation would have
North Korea yesterday fired about 10 ballistic missiles to the sea toward Japan, the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said, days after Pyongyang warned of “terrible consequences” over ongoing South Korea-US military drills. Pyongyang recently dashed hopes of a diplomatic thaw with Seoul, Washington’s security ally, describing its latest peace efforts as a “clumsy, deceptive farce.” Seoul’s military detected “around 10 ballistic missiles launched from the Sunan area in North Korea toward the East Sea [Sea of Japan] at around 1:20pm,” JCS said in a statement, referring to South Korea’s name for the body of water. The missiles
‘UNWAVERING FRIENDSHIP’: A representative of a Japanese group that co-organized a memorial, said he hopes Japanese never forget Taiwan’s kindness President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday marked the 15th anniversary of the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, urging continued cooperation between Taiwan and Japan on disaster prevention and humanitarian assistance. Lai wrote on social media that Taiwan and Japan have always helped each other in the aftermath of major disasters. The magnitude 9 earthquake struck northeastern Japan on March 11, 2011, triggering a massive tsunami that claimed more than 19,000 lives, according to data from Japanese authorities. Following the disaster, Taiwan donated more than US$240 million in aid, making it one of the largest contributors of financial assistance to Japan. In addition to cash donations and
North Korea tested nuclear-capable rocket launchers, state media reported yesterday, a day after Seoul detected the launch of about 10 ballistic missiles. The test comes after South Korean and US forces launched their springtime military drills, due to run until Thursday. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Saturday oversaw the testing of the multiple rocket launcher system (MRLS), the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. The test involved 12 600mm-caliber ultra-precision multiple rocket launchers and two artillery companies, it said. Kim said the drill gave Pyongyang’s enemies, within the 420km striking range, a sense of “uneasiness” and “a deep understanding
RSS