Italy redeems itself - The hindu march 23rd 2O13
It is a known fact that Italy and India have been in spats from the forsaken times.
These days everyone is aware of the chopper scam: http://www.deccanherald.com/content/311781/italy-unearths-scam-chopper-deal.html while this problem hasn't been dealt away with, two Italian marines( Massimiliano Lattore and Salvatore Girone ) are accused of shooting two Indian fishermen in the Arabian sea on 15th feb 2012, whom they had mistaken for pirates. While the trial for them is still up, they were sent to Italy two times, once for christmas and another for voting in their elections. And as Rome refused to send them back, Italy's ambassador Daniele Mancini was held up by Indian authorities to withstand him in India till our plea was heard by their government. So our foreign ministry spoke about this issue addressing that they know about the Vienna convention, yet are still bound by the supreme court to not let him out of the country. Keeping this aside the Italian government opinionated that it was a fault made on both sides. Italy insisted that any restrictions on its ambassador's movements violated conventions on diplomatic relations.India contends the shooting happened in Indian waters, while Italy has insisted the shooting happened in international waters during an international anti-piracy mission and Italy should have jurisdiction.
What would happen if the two marines were handed over to an international court?
It would anyway be lenient on them, it is no different here in India. While the higher authorities such as the PM have assured the Italian government that the marines won't be given a death sentence and the punishment would also be reduced. That aside, by keeping a strong stand of bringing back the marines to India for a trial in a special court( ordered by Supreme court) has to be brought up immediately and it should be seen whether the family of the fishermen is done full justice by punishing the marines for the murder. For all the publicity this issue received it is yet to be seen if due justice is done to the families of the fishermen, or if the diplomacy matters more in trials like this.
TONE: objective
