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Islam, Democracy and Human Rights in Contemporary Indonesia75home country, the more apparent his conflict with Soekarno.The dispute mounted as Soekarno bluntly violated theconstitution through the application of the guided democracysystem, which, according to Natsir, led the government to adictatorial system with the support of the communist faction.This situation, and also protracted rebellions in the interior ofIndonesia, finally drove Natsir to withdraw from Jakarta.His departure to Central Sumatra to join military dissidentsin this area was a personal decision without any discussion withhis colleagues in Masyumi. He felt that he had tried all possiblelegal and parliamentary procedures to improve the situation,but still failed to get President Soekarno to respect the basicconstitution and democracy. Meanwhile, he experienced terrorfrom PKI youth cadres such that his personal security in Jakartawas in jeopardy. Even though he reported this problem to thesecurity forces, nothing was done about this.Finally, Natsir made a risky political maneuver: leavingJakarta to join the dissidents. They demanded a politicalreconstruction at the central level, banning the communist partyand maintaining the Indonesian constitution, which had beenviolated by President Soekarno. When their demands were notfulfilled, the dissidents proclaimed the creation of PemerintahRevolusioner Republik Indonesia (PRRI - The RevolutionaryGovernment of the Republic of Indonesia) as a rival to the centralgovernment in Jakarta led by President Soekarno and PrimeMinister Djuanda Kartawinata.Natsir%u2019s departure, later followed by SjafruddinPrawiranegara and Boerhanuddin Harahap, raised controversyamong Masyumi proponents. Although his leaving was apersonal choice, such a decision would generally bring particular