Thiruvananthapuram: India’s fishermen union on Friday welcomed the announcement of the return of two Italian marines, accused of killing two Indian fishermen while on anti-piracy duty
They urged the government and the Supreme Court to not allow them to leave the country again
Speaking to mediapersons here, president of the fishermen union, T. Peter said that although the decision to bring the marines back was welcomed, if the government again allows them to leave the country, they would launch another protest
“This is the victory of the fishermen’s struggle all over India. This is a message to the European Union and United Nations that the Indian fishermen are not cheaters. We are requesting to the Supreme Court and Prime Minister of India, do not allow the marines to go back to Italy. If they again allow them to go back to Italy, all over India the fisher folk will again come together for a struggle,” he added
The Italian Government on Thursday said that it would return to India the two marines facing murder charges in the shooting deaths of two fishermen.
The announcement reversed an earlier decision by the Italian Foreign Ministry that the pair would not return on March 22 as agreed when they were granted permission to return home to vote in the Italian elections.
Italy’s previous decision not to send the marines to face trial triggered a diplomatic standoff.
The Supreme Court on Monday ordered Italy’s Ambassador to India Daniele Mancini not to leave the country till April 2, when the next hearing into the killing of two Kerala fishermen allegedly by two Italian marines is scheduled
The apex court further indicated that all authorities should take appropriate steps on the order restraining the Italian envoy from leaving the country.
Mancini, meanwhile, told the apex court that he had complete immunity under the Vienna Convention.
The apex court said that it would not accept nor does it believe the ambassador’s statement, as he had lost trust of the court by going back on his word.
The two Italian marines, Salvatore Latorre and Massimiliano Girone, charged with homicide for killing two fishermen off the Kerala coast in February 2012 after mistaking them for pirates, were permitted by the Supreme Court to go to Italy for four weeks to vote in last month’s election
The two were allowed to go home during Christmas. They returned to India on the expiry of their leave.
