Italy accused of betraying India in marines case
Source: Agencies |
March 13, 2013, Wednesday
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ANGRY politicians attacked the Indian government yesterday for allowing two Italian marines accused of killing a pair of Indian fishermen last year to leave the country.
The government allowed the marines to return to Italy in February to vote in national elections and to spend Easter with their families. Italy announced on Monday it would not send the marines back to India for trial as had been expected.
Opposition lawmakers held up proceedings in both houses of India's Parliament demanding the government explain what it plans to do to bring the marines back. India said it is considering what steps to take next.
Minister for External Affairs Salman Khurshid said the government would respond appropriately to a letter from the Italian government saying the marines would not return to India.
"We are studying the implications of the position taken by Italy. We will take an informed decision after examining the communication from Italy," Khurshid said.
But opposition political parties said the decision showed Italy did not take the Indian government seriously.
"This is a betrayal by the Italian government," said Rajiv Pratap Rudy, spokesman of the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party.
Rudy said the government should work to bring the marines back to face "trial under Indian laws."
The marines, Massimilian Latorre and Salvatore Girone, were part of a military security team aboard a cargo ship when they opened fire on a fishing boat in February 2012 they said they mistook for a pirate craft, killing the two fishermen.
The wife of one of the slain fishermen said the decision to let the marines go home to vote appeared to be part of a plan to spare them from facing trial.
"This is nothing but a conspiracy at the highest level," said the wife, Dora Valantine.
The government allowed the marines to return to Italy in February to vote in national elections and to spend Easter with their families. Italy announced on Monday it would not send the marines back to India for trial as had been expected.
Opposition lawmakers held up proceedings in both houses of India's Parliament demanding the government explain what it plans to do to bring the marines back. India said it is considering what steps to take next.
Minister for External Affairs Salman Khurshid said the government would respond appropriately to a letter from the Italian government saying the marines would not return to India.
"We are studying the implications of the position taken by Italy. We will take an informed decision after examining the communication from Italy," Khurshid said.
But opposition political parties said the decision showed Italy did not take the Indian government seriously.
"This is a betrayal by the Italian government," said Rajiv Pratap Rudy, spokesman of the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party.
Rudy said the government should work to bring the marines back to face "trial under Indian laws."
The marines, Massimilian Latorre and Salvatore Girone, were part of a military security team aboard a cargo ship when they opened fire on a fishing boat in February 2012 they said they mistook for a pirate craft, killing the two fishermen.
The wife of one of the slain fishermen said the decision to let the marines go home to vote appeared to be part of a plan to spare them from facing trial.
"This is nothing but a conspiracy at the highest level," said the wife, Dora Valantine.
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