OPPOSITION LEADER EVINCES CONFIDENCE IN FACE OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L PHNOM PENH 000305 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS AND DRL E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/04/2018 TAGS: PGOV KDEM PHUM CB SUBJECT: OPPOSITION LEADER EVINCES CONFIDENCE IN FACE OF ARREST RUMORS REF: PHNOM PENH 283 Classified By: Economics Officer Jennifer Spande for reason 1.4 (b) ¶1. (SBU) In an April 3 meeting with Poleconoffs, Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) parliamentarian Tioulong Samura evinced confidence in the face of rumors that she could be arrested over allegations that she was involved in the detention of a defector from the Sam Rainsy Party (reftel). Samura, who had just returned to Cambodia from overseas, said that she was aware of arrest rumors--including some gossip that her parliamentary immunity could be lifted. There were always rumors, she said, and it was impossible to know what rumors to take seriously. She declared herself ready to serve time in jail, with her suitcase already packed with several lengthy books and yarn to knit clothes for her new grandchild. She also stated that she would be willing to answer questions from the police if asked. ¶2. (C) The opposition leader, who is also the wife of party chief Sam Rainsy, said that she wasn't surprised by the allegations, describing them as "one of a series of tricks they (the CPP) has used against us." She also relayed accusations about Cambodian People's Party (CPP) infiltration of the SRP: that some SRP defectors had been assigned to publicly defect while others were told to remain within the party as spies. (Comment: This information is third hand--coming from alleged detention victim Tim Norn, who has proven to be an unreliable source prone to change stories, and delivered via Samura. End Comment.) Samura said she expected another wave of detentions in late April when the SRP submits its party list. MUSSOMELI