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President Yudhoyono Declares 7 Days of National Mourning

The second President of Indonesia who leads for 33 years from 1965-1998 died shortly after 1:10 p.m. Jakarta time on Sunday, January 27, 2008 at Jakarta's Pertamina Hospital.In failing health since his ouster from power 10 years ago, Soeharto succumbed to multiple organ failure surrounded by members of his family. Despite medical reports over the past few days that the former dictator's health was improving, Soeharto's condition suddenly deteriorated on Saturday.Soeharto had been hospitalized since January 4, 2008.The President's poor health and eight separate hospitalizations since his resignation from office in 1998 have, at least in part, thwarted attempts to by Indonesian prosecutors to bring him to justice on various criminal charges in connection with purported excesses committed during more than 3 decades of iron-clad rule. Pending criminal prosecutions that were held in abeyance by his continuing state of ill health have now been rendered moot by Soeharto's passing.However, civil actions against numerous foundations created by Soeharto used to channel levies imposed on various Indonesian businesses are likely to continue, as our a number of criminal and civil litigation against his children.Burial in Central JavaIn accordance with the former President's wishes as stated in his autobiography, Soeharto's remains will be interred at Astana Giri Bangun - a family cemetary at Karanganyar, near Solo, Central Java. Soeharto's parents-in-law and his late wife, Madame Tien Soeharto, who preceded him in death in 1997, are buried at the complex.President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has formally declared 7 days of official national mourning as a sign of respect for the former President.