D-8 Organization Expresses Condolences to the Passing of Suharto

Istanbul, Turkey | January 27, 2008 by D-8 Secretariat

Former Indonesian President Suharto, died on Sunday. He was 86.

Suharto had been in intensive care with lung, heart and kidney failure since he was admitted to the hospital on Jan. 4. Over the past week his physicians had spoken of a recovery, but by Sunday that had changed dramatically. Dozens of doctors had been rushed to the Pertamina Hospital in the capital of Indonesia, Jakarta, after Suharto’s blood pressure fell suddenly Saturday night. Suharto had slipped out of consciousness for the first time in more than three weeks of treatment, doctors said.

He had been in and out of the hospital several times since resigning from presidency following the 1997-1998  Asian financial crisis, for heart problems, internal bleeding, and strokes that caused brain damage and impaired his speech.

In a televised address, the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, called on “the people of Indonesia to pay their last respects to one of Indonesia’s best sons … who has done very great service to his beloved nation.” The country declared a week of national mourning and the president was to oversee a state funeral Monday once Suharto’s body had been flown by a fleet of 11 Air Force planes to be placed in the family mausoleum.

As is customary in Islamic tradition, Suharto’s body was to be washed and joint prayers were held at the family home in the presence of his six children, Yudhoyono and dozens of the country’s high officials.

Statemens from all over the world are extending condolences to the Indonesian nation for losing one of its respected leader.

Prime Minister of Malaysia, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Sunday extended his heartfelt condolences to the family of Suharto and the Indonesian people on the death of the republic’s former president. Paying tribute to Suharto for having helped to strengthen ties between Indonesia and Malaysia, the prime minister said his passing was a great loss to both countries.

The former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Mahathir Mohamad, also extended his condolences on Sunday. According to his statement in Malaysia’s BERNAMA agency, Mohamad said that he sees Suharto as a great leader, and international statesman. “For me, it’s quite personal. I know him and I have worked with him for a very long time,” he said in a tribute to Suharto.

“I regarded him as a friend of Malaysia and as a personal friend,” he told Bernama at his residence in Seri Kembangan on Sunday. Mohamad credited Suharto for playing a very big role in the development of Indonesia which has more than 13,000 islands and a population of 200 million.

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo expressed condolences for the passing of former Indonesian president Suharto on Sunday, saying he “will never be forgotten.” Arroyo hailed Suharto for his leadership in the South-East Asian region and contributions to peace building in the Philippines` troubled southern region of Mindanao. Arroyo, who was in the United Arab Emirates for an official visit, said “generations of Filipinos and South-east Asians will remember President Suharto for his key role in regional community building.”

“As one of the fathers of the ASEAN, President Suharto was among those who had the pioneering vision of establishing a more peaceful, progressive and prosperous South-east Asian region founded on respect and understanding,” she said. The Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) groups Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister of Japan, Yasuo Fukuda, also expressed his government and people’s condolencees on Sunday on the demise of the late former president. In his statement, Fukuda praised Suharto as a good friend of Japan for his efforts to build a permanent friendship relation between Japan and Indonesia.

The late Suharto was among the leaders who initiate the D-8 Organization establishment with Turkish’s Necmettin Erbakan. Suharto was a decisive leader whose development policies had propelled Indonesia among the ranks of reputable developing countries. D-8 Secretary General, an Indonesian former high official, Dipo Alam, was saddened by the demise of Suharto. In his statement, he said that Indonesia and D-8 has lost one of its best statesman who, amid his imperfections, had been contributing alot to the development of Indonesia, and other developing countries.

Suharto’s wife of 49 years, Indonesian royal Siti Hartinah, died in 1996. The couple had three sons and three daughters.

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