ON Thursday night last week, it was as if the VVIP treatment room on the 5th floor of the Pertamina Central Hospital in Jakarta was beset by anxiety. Former State Secretary Moerdiono shed a tear. Bapak has to be operated on again, he said.

The children of Suharto, the former President who Moerdiono addressed as Bapak, said little. Present at the hospital were Siti Hardijanti (Tutut), Siti Hediati Harijadi (Titiek) and Siti Hutami Endang Adiningsih