June 7, 1997
INDONESIA'S SUHARTO CELEBRATES
76TH BIRTHDAY
SVCBC-INDONESIA-SUHARTO-BIRTHDAY JAKARTA, June 8 (Reuter) - Indonesia's
President Suharto, the world's second longest-serving leader after Cuba's Fidel Castro, celebrated
his 76th birthday on Sunday.
A private gathering with his six children, their spouses and grandchildren was being held at his
private residence in central Jakarta. It will be the second birthday since Suharto's wife, Tien, died
of a heart attack.
A retired general, Suharto rose to power in 1968, succeeding the late president Sukarno,
Indonesia's first president.
He is widely expected to run for a seventh five-year term year when the People's Consultative
Assembly (MPR) meets to select the president in March next year.
Suharto has not named any successor and there is keen interest in who he will select as
vice-president -- and potential successor, given his age.
Suharto underwent a thorough medical check-up in Germany in mid-1996 and was given a clean
bill of health for a man his age. Financial markets have been nervous in recent months, however, on
unfounded rumours regarding his health.
The MPR, comprising the 500 members of parliament and 500 appointees, elects the president
and vice-president every five years.
Diplomatic analysts said that over the coming months, Suharto would seek to build a consensus
within the powerful military and political elite, particularly for his vice-presidential choice as his own
election would be assured.
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