In 1977, Somohardjo was one of the founders of the Javanese party Pendawa Lima. In 1980, there was a coup d'état which brought Desi Bouterse to power. In 1982, Somohardjo was jailed for alleged involvement in a counter-coup by Surendre Rambocus which was later changed to house arrest. On 7 December 1982, he received permission to visit the funeral of his grandmother, and used the opportunity to escape to the Netherlands.