JAKARTA, 28 January 2008 — Indonesia’s former President Suharto, whose iron-fisted rule became a byword for corruption and bloody repression but also brought economic growth, died yesterday after a long fight for life. His demise at 86 marks the passing of yet another of the authoritarian and mostly pro-Western strongmen who dominated this part of Asia for much of the late 20th century.
Doctors treating him since he was hospitalized three weeks ago with heart, lung and kidney problems said he had died at 1:10pm (0610 GMT) after multiple organ failure. “Father has returned to God,” his eldest daughter, Siti Hariyanti “Tutut” Rukmana told reporters outside the hospital, breaking down in tears.
“We ask that if he had any faults, please forgive them... may he be absolved of all his mistakes.” Munawar, a doctor who treated Suharto, said: “We worked our best... God has decided otherwise.”
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono expressed his sorrow and asked people to pray for the late president. “I also would like to call on the people of Indonesia to show the highest respect to one of the nation’s best sons, a great leader of the nation who has contributed so much service and dedication to the nation and the state.” The flag at the presidential palace was lowered to half mast, and Cabinet Secretary Sudi Silalahi announced a seven-day mourning period. A presidential spokesman said Yudhoyono would lead today’s funeral at the family grave near Solo, Central Java, where Suharto will be buried next to his wife of 48 years, Siti Suhartinah, who died in 1996.
Malaysia’s former premier Mahathir Mohamad described Suharto as a “great leader and an international statesman.” Mahathir, a contemporary of Suharto’s during their long terms in power, told the Malaysian state Bernama news agency that accounts that the former Indonesian leader presided over hundreds of thousands of violent deaths of communists were “absolute nonsense.”
“I know this for a fact. I knew what happened. Indonesia was in a state of anarchy then and he had no authority. At the time of the killings, he was not even the president. He did not order the killing,” Mahathir said.
“We looked up to him as a great leader and as an international statesman. For me, it’s quite personal. I know him and I have worked with him for a very long time,” he added.
