It was reported that ten Parliamentarians in Tonga...

It was reported that ten Parliamentarians in Tonga moved against a Bill that called for stiffer penalties, like death, against illicit drug offenders, resulting in the Bill's defeat. Votes were called for a debate on the Bill, which was supported by Acting Prime Minister and newly elected Minister of Police, Cecil Cocker, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fekita 'Utoikamanu, Minister for Health, Dr Viliame Tangi, Minister for Agriculture, Hon. Tuita, Minister of Education, Paula Bloomfield, Governor of Ha'apai, Hon. Malupo, and the Governor of Vava'u. Hon. 'Akau'ola.
Mr Cocker had stressed the need to raise the penalty for illicit drugs possession from 30 years to the death penalty. The Bill was unclear on what type of death penalty offenders would be subjected to. MP Sunia Fili raised objections against the Bill, saying it was unwarranted because Tonga already had the death penalty for murder and treason offenders. Peauafi Haukinima asked what power Tonga had to pass a law to kill someone.
'Ulliti Uata said the Bill was "another nonsense and had no good reason" for debate, adding that Mr Cocker "wanted to hang someone" by introducing the Bill.
Noble Vaha'i said it was "un-Christian" to introduce the Bill and found there "no classification on the kind of illicit drug that would warrant a death penalty.