Rome recalls ambassador from India in piracy spat

[KS]

Rome recalls ambassador from India in piracy spat | Reuters

(Reuters) - Italy recalled its ambassador from New Delhi on Friday after two Italian members of an anti-piracy unit were charged with the murder of two Indian fishermen in an escalation of an increasingly tense diplomatic dispute.

The Italian marines, who were members of a security detachment protecting the merchant vessel Enrica Lexie, have been held in Kerala since being arrested by local authorities in February.

Italy's foreign ministry said it was recalling its ambassador for consultations "in light of the situation in Kerala and the charges against the two Italian servicemen Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone".

Latorre and Girone were stationed on a merchant ship off the southern Indian coast tasked with protecting it from pirate attacks. They fired warning shots at a fishing boat on February 15, believing it to be a pirate vessel, they said.

A spokesman for India's foreign ministry said the fact that Italy had recalled its ambassador did not indicate relations had soured.

"Calling back for consultation is not unusual and they have not told us it is anything unusual. Our understanding is that it is for consultation, not for recall," said the spokesman, who asked not to be named.

One of the murder charges carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, but another can be punished by death, though the central government would have to approve that. India has not used the death penalty for several years, the state's deputy public prosecutor K.O. Raju told Reuters.

The marines will appear in court on May 25, when a charge sheet will be presented to them, and the trial could begin shortly afterwards, Raju said.

The Enrica Lexie entered the Indian port of Kochi on February 20 after the authorities asked its crew to help identify some suspected pirates.

The marines were then arrested by some 30 armed Indian officials in what the Italian foreign minister said was "subterfuge by the local police".

India has ignored Italy's protests that jurisdiction over the marines should lie with Rome because the incident occurred in international waters.

Speaking on Indian television, Italy's Deputy Foreign Minister Staffan de Mistura said on Friday that the Indian legal process was taking too long and vowed to take the case to the Supreme Court if the verdict in Kerala went against the marines.

He made no mention of the ambassador being recalled.

 

[Tridibans]

It's unfortunate that they shared the same skin color as Somalian pirates. I can't imagine this happening to Arab/Iranian/Pakistani fisherman. RIP

LOL after taking racial cheap shots, you are using RIP in the same sentance?
Anyway, what else can we expect from high IQ false flaggers.

 

[Raphael]

1. It was actually the next sentence.
2. I'm not a false flagger.
3. It's relevant to point out what probably made the Italian marines mistake the fisherman for pirates.
4. Where's your expression of grief for the victims? Unlike me, you're too busy playing the blame game.

 

[Mech]

Its amazing to see such a tough line being adopted by the Kerala Government. I'm happy to know that Malayali lives are being valued by the Kerala and Indian government.

Jai Hind.

1. It was actually the next sentence.
2. I'm not a false flagger.
3. It's relevant to point out what probably made the Italian marines mistake the fisherman for pirates.
4. Where's your expression of grief for the victims? Unlike me, you're too busy playing the blame game.

No man, your'e just another random chinese schnitzel....Who cares ?

 

[scorpionx]

It's unfortunate that they shared the same skin color as Somalian pirates. I can't imagine this happening to Arab/Iranian/Pakistani fisherman. RIP

Italians found somali pirates in india? what a pathetic IQ

 

[Tridibans]

1. It was actually the next sentence.
2. I'm not a false flagger.
3. It's relevant to point out what probably made the Italian marines mistake the fisherman for pirates.
4. Where's your expression of grief for the victims? Unlike me, you're too busy playing the blame game.

First of all your first post don't make any logical assumption. Who told you they looked like somali pirates? You have photos to prove that? If you are referring to their skin colour then I guess quarter of the world would resemble pirates to you.

Secondly, how does one shows grief is none of anyone else's business.

Cheers!

 

[DelhiDareDevil]

It's unfortunate that they shared the same skin color as Somalian pirates. I can't imagine this happening to Arab/Iranian/Pakistani fisherman. RIP

Agree its sad that people like Dhoni etc look like pirates, and its sad the world has racist people like you.

Post reported

 

[Safriz]

why did the fishermen keep coming towards the ship after warning shots were fired?

 

[ares]

why did the fishermen keep coming towards the ship after warning shots were fired?

Were you there..did you see it happen..has the above been corroborated by any solid evidence...like the radar picture from the ships VDR(black box) or you just relying on the "accused" version of events?

 

[notsuperstitious]

If predetermined murder charge has been slapped then its just BS and the Kerala govt is playing unnecessary emotive politics and in typical style holding India hostage to its regional BS.

I actually think India has no jurisdiction, Italians have said sorry for the mistake and paid civil damages and criminal case should be allowed to carry on in Italy.

 

[Roybot]

It's unfortunate that they shared the same skin color as Somalian pirates. I can't imagine this happening to Arab/Iranian/Pakistani fisherman. RIP

All the fishermen have dark tanned skin. When you are out in the sea for days they all look the same.

Indian, Pakistani, Iranian fishermen. You tell me which one is which. Racist pri*k.

 

[Raphael]

There are a couple of very dark (Somali calibre) fisherman in the second and third photos (front row 2nd left in the 2nd photo, front row right-most in the 3rd photo, second row left-most in the 3rd photo) who can only be South Indian. So I'm guessing the 1st photo is Pakistani, 2nd and 3rd are Indians.

You show the Italian marines too much mercy. Obviously they were already aggressive if they were so willing to kill, but something must have suggested to them that they were Somalian pirates.

 

[Roybot]

There are a couple of very dark (Somali calibre) fisherman in the second and third photos (front row 2nd left in the 2nd photo, front row right-most in the 3rd photo, second row left-most in the 3rd photo) who can only be South Indian. So I'm guessing the 1st photo is Pakistani, 2nd and 3rd are Indians.

First photo is Iranian, 2nd Indian, 3rd Pakistani, so you can shove your racist theory.

 

[Raphael]

Sources plz. The first photo doesn't surprise me too much - they're probably Balochi. No way the two I pointed out in the third photo are Pakistani though.

 

[Rang De]

It's unfortunate that they shared the same skin color as Somalian pirates. I can't imagine this happening to Arab/Iranian/Pakistani fisherman. RIP

There are a couple of very dark (Somali calibre) fisherman in the second and third photos (front row 2nd left in the 2nd photo, front row right-most in the 3rd photo, second row left-most in the 3rd photo) who can only be South Indian. So I'm guessing the 1st photo is Pakistani, 2nd and 3rd are Indians.

You show the Italian marines too much mercy. Obviously they were already aggressive if they were so willing to kill, but something must have suggested to them that they were Somalian pirates.