Former Indonesian dictator Suharto makes "amazing recovery"

By JAKARTA
Former Indonesian dictator Suharto moved his hands and spoke in a whisper Sunday in what doctors called an amazing recovery after he suffered multiple organ failure. Suharto, 86, was hospitalized Jan. 4 with severe kidney, lung and heart trouble. His condition deteriorated rapidly a week ago and he developed a potentially fatal blood infection, pneumonia and his heart briefly stopped. Preparations had begun for a state funeral. On Sunday, Suharto was still in intensive care, but was ready for early stages of physiotherapy, said Dr. Jusuf Misbach. "He is fully conscious, he can follow instructions and answer our questions in a weak voice," he said. "He scratched himself and raised his hands. It's an amazing accomplishment." Suharto ruled Indonesia for 32 years, before being toppled by street protests in 1998. Between 300,000 and 800,000 "communist sympathizers" were killed during his rise to power from 1965 to 1968, and 300,000 were killed in military operations against independence movements in Papua, Aceh and East Timor.