Jump to full article: Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) (au), 2002-03-27
Intro: A member of parliament in American Samoa has vowed to continue his fight to curb smoking, after the Senate this week rejected a bill which would have banned cigarettes in schools.
Otomalesau John Ah Sue, who sponsored the bill in the House of Representatives, says he will reintroduce the student-initiated proposal, which was rejected by nine votes to seven in the Senate.
Students had approached legislators in a bid to end smoking by both students and teachers in primary and high schools, fearing the health effects of direct and passive smoking.
This follows reports suggesting both teachers and students have been allowed to smoke in classrooms throughout American Samoa.
Otomalesau says the Senate's rejection of the bill is irresponsible, and is a response to an earlier rejection of an unrelated bill in the House of Representatives.
He says he is confident strong public support for the bill will force Senators to change their mind.
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