Former leader can still hold the media in thrall

The Jakarta Post : It is almost 10 years since Soeharto stepped down as president of Indonesia, but he seems to have lost little of his pulling power, if the attention the media has paid to his stints at Pertamina Hospital in South Jakarta are anything to go by.

Since he was rushed to hospital Friday with anemia and a sever edema, he has been monitored around the clock by doctors and hordes of journalists.

On Tuesday evening the hospital's lobby was packed solid with reporters sitting on anything they could find -- even the floor -- some chatting while others were attempting to snatch a few minutes of sleep.

"I've been here since the first day eyang (grandpa) was hospitalized," said one of the reporters.

They have been joined by a flood of important visitors, including President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Vice President Jusuf Kalla and various government ministers.

Buckets of flowers sent by colleagues, friends and businessmen line the hospitals first floor. Far too many have been sent to fit in Soeharto's room on the fifth floor.

An endless debate on his legal status has run alongside that about his health, keeping the journalists glued to the hospital, even when their stomachs start to rumble.

"I'm starving but I'm afraid that if I leave this place I will lose a scoop," said one reporter, to nods of agreement from the others.

At around lunchtime, the security guards take pity on them and bring food from a restaurant around the corner, promising to bring some snacks in the afternoon.

Separately, secretary general of the Alliance of Independent Journalists Abdul Manan said that in general journalists should not accept any gift, no matter how small.

"We should see whether the meals are provided because we are journalists or not," he told The Jakarta Post over the phone.

"It is OK if the meals are provided not only to the journalists."

Luckily for the journalists nesting in the hospital lobby, other guests and some of the hospital's security guards were also tucking in. (Irawaty Wardany)