Italian marines will not return to India over killings

[jimmy olsen]

Shouldn't have let them go home.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/03/11/uk-india-italy-marines-idUKBRE92A0XL20130311

Italy marines will not return to India over killings

(Reuters) - Two Italian marines charged in India with killing two fishermen while on anti-piracy duty will not return there from a home visit granted to allow them to vote in last month's election, the Italian Foreign Ministry said on Monday.

The ministry said India had not responded to Italian requests to seek a diplomatic solution to the case and there was now a formal dispute between the two countries over the terms of the U.N. Convention of the Law of the Sea.

"Italy has informed the Indian government that, given the formal initiation of an international dispute between the two states, the marines Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone will not return to India at the end of their home leave," the ministry said in a statement.

Italy was ready to seek a settlement of the dispute through arbitration or an international court decision, it said.

The two sailors, part of a military security team protecting the tanker Enrica Lexie from pirates, were accused of shooting the two fishermen after mistaking them for pirates off the southern Indian state of Kerala in February last year.

The incident has caused a serious diplomatic dispute between Italy and India, which have traditionally had good relations.

An Indian foreign ministry spokesman told Reuters the government would study the message from Italy's ambassador in New Delhi before commenting.

"We have received a communication from Italy late tonight. We will examine it carefully," he said.

India's Supreme Court said in a long-awaited ruling in January that India had jurisdiction to try the marines but Italy has challenged that decision, arguing that the shooting took place in international waters.

The sailors arrived back in Italy on February 23, a day before the country's election, after India's Supreme Court granted their request to exercise their right to vote. They were allowed to remain in Italy for four weeks.

They also spent Christmas in Italy, after a Kerala court allowed them to join their families for the holiday, on condition they returned to India by January 10, which they did.

(Reporting by James Mackenzie and Matthias Williams in New Delhi; Editing by Louise Ireland)

[11B4V]

Good play by Italy.

[DGuller]

When I saw the title, I thought they refused to return to India to protest the killings taking place there.

[Jacob]

Don't trust Italians to keep their word, I guess.

[Razgovory]

Don't trust Italians to keep their word, I guess.

Judging from my family members, no, no you should not.

[grumbler]

Seems a stupid move by the Italians, but then, their governments aren't known for their wisdom.

[Admiral Yi]

Pretty greasy move by the Eyeties, but on the other hand there is some likelihood the court allowed them to go home with an understanding they wouldn't return.

[derspiess]

Meh.  They wouldn't get a fair trial in India.

[grumbler]

Meh.  They wouldn't get a fair trial in India.

A lot fairer than they would get in Italy! 

[dps]

Meh.  They wouldn't get a fair trial in India.

A lot fairer than they would get in Italy! 

True, but if the choices are stand trial in India for murder, or stay in Italy without facing any criminal charges, most likely a lot of people would opt for Italy.

[grumbler]

True, but if the choices are stand trial in India for murder, or stay in Italy without facing any criminal charges, most likely a lot of people would opt for Italy.

No question about it.  I think the Italian government fucked up by spending that one-time opportunity on a mere two guys.  You can be sure no Italians awaiting trial in India will get any compassionate leave in the future.

[Berkut]

True, but if the choices are stand trial in India for murder, or stay in Italy without facing any criminal charges, most likely a lot of people would opt for Italy.

No question about it.  I think the Italian government fucked up by spending that one-time opportunity on a mere two guys.  You can be sure no Italians awaiting trial in India will get any compassionate leave in the future.

Yeah, but it is two Italian Marines, not just any two Italians. That represents a significant portion of their total projectable combat power.

[grumbler]

Yeah, but it is two Italian Marines, not just any two Italians. That represents a significant portion both of their total projectable combat power.