Tension between India and Italy raises over two marines

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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The two Italian marines accused of killing Indian fishermen said they are contented to return home. The marines were allowed to return for only four days; however, the Italian government informed its Indian counterparts that the two accused will not fly back to face trial.

“Now we are finally happy. We are happy to go back to work,” said Salvatore Latorre, who along with Massimiliano Girone, have been charged with killing two fishermen off the Kerala coast in February 2012.

Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai summoned Italian ambassador in New Delhi on Tuesday to convey its collective decision that ‘contents of note is not acceptable’ to India.

“We summoned the ambassador of Italy. I summoned him to my office and basically what I told him is that the contents of note, which was given to us conveying the position of the government of Italy regarding the two marines is not acceptable to us,” said Mathai after meeting the Italian ambassador to India Daniele Mancini in his office in New Delhi.

The Italian government gave an undertaking to the Indian Supreme Court that the two marines will be sent back to India after they have casted their votes in February’s general elections. However, Italy has now challenged the Indian judiciary to try the sailors alleging that the incident took place in international waters which are beyond the jurisdiction of India.

On the other hand, Indian authorities blame the sailors of shooting unarmed fishermen in a contiguous zone where Indian law applies. The sailors have alleged that the fishermen were mistakes as pirates. According to Italian government, the two marines should be tried by the Centre by constituting a special court to conduct their trial.