The Italian newspapers were vociferous on their government’s decision to send back the two Italian marines to stand trial in India.
Reports appearing in several newspapers give an indication that a guarantee on no death penalty for the marines has been sought from India. Italy had abolished death penalty in 1947.
According to reports available online, the decision was taken in the morning on Thursday at an emergency meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Committee for Security of the Republic which was chaired by Prime Minister Mario Monti and attended by Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi, Interior Minister Anna Maria Cancellieri, Justice Minister Paola Severino, Defence Minister Giampaolo Di Paola, Economy and Finance Minister Vittorio Grilli.
Soon afterwards Mr. Monti along with Mr. Di Paolo and Deputy Foreign Minister Stephan Di Mistura summoned the marines Massimilano Lattore and Salvatore Girone and talked to them for close to four hours, the news paper reports said.
According to the newspaper La Nazione, Indian officials were also involved in the discussions from the Delhi end but the report did not identify the Indian officials. The newspaper Il Mondo reported that as per a note issued from Palazzo Chigi, the official residence of the Italian Prime Minister, “the government has received written assurance from India on the treatment of the two marines when they arrive in India and also a guarantee on protection of their fundamental rights.”
The same newspaper also quoted Mr. De Mistura as saying that “New Delhi has assured that there will be no death penalty against the marines.” The newspaper La Gazetta Del Mezzogiorno quotes Mr. De Mistura ‘‘the word given by an Italian is sacred. We had suspended their return because we were waiting for a guarantee on certain conditions from New Delhi.’’
La Gazetta Del Mezzogiorno published from Bari, the native place of Girone, said that as he was leaving his house, loud screams of a woman could be heard from the house. He was accompanied by a good crowd of friends and relatives. He was in tears when he left his house. Lattore while visiting his house in Taranto on Thursday broke down, the newspaper reported, adding that police security was arranged at the house to control crowds.
The newspaper La Repubblica said Mayor of Bari Michele Emiliano launched a devastating attack on the government for the decision to send back the marines. “I now entrust our two heroes to the Indian institutions to protect them. I hope that the Republic of India is less clumsy than the Monti government.’’
Keywords: Italian Marines issue, Vienna Convention, Italian media, death penalty,
How do you know the two marines "are murderers"? how can you be so
certain they are the ones who killed? This is the type of appalling
comment that explains why they didn't want to come back.
Let these two Marines go free. India and Indians are very magnanimous. Let us show an upper hand by releasing them. After all, the killings were not intentional but accidental and warranted by the circumstances.
Italian media can not be vociferous against India.They are concerned
about weeping family of their heroes who are actually murderers.Have
they no concern for heart-broken families of Indian fisherman who were
innocent Or life of Indian has no value in their thinking.If Italian
marines thought (rightly or wrongly that the fishermen were
terrorists/pirates,they could have asked the latter to 'hands up'&
caught hold of them.They do not have weapons to use them
indiscriminately.
This looks completely like a drama by both. how is possible that first we send them and dont cry, then opposition cries foul, then govt. takes it seriously. this whole things looks like a big DRAMA!!!
It is better to hire foreign nationals, from countries that have banned
death sentence, to involve in crimes in India rather than hiring local
dhadas who could be prosecuted and sentenced to death.
Whether to give a death penalty or not, is decided by the Supreme court. Why does Indian Minister give an assurance? SC is not bound by the assurance. We certainly don't want the Marines to be hanged. But assurance on the ruling should not be from politicians or ministers.
It is surprising when the EAM Khurshid says that Supreme Court has stated that India has jurisdiction to try the case. If one has to go by the paper reports of the SC judgment of 18th Jan is that Supreme Court has left the matter of jurisdiction to be decided by the special court to be set up in consultation with SC. And how India can give an assurance to Italy that the Marines will not be sentenced to death? Capital punishment still exists in India. Even though the whole world is moving against it India stubbornly holds to it, the most barbarous punishment. It is up to the court to award suitable punishment to the offender. When the government says that it will not award capital punishment it is akin to that already the offender has been tried and found how guilty he is. Even before a court is constituted and trial started how it is possible. No one can say what all turns the case may take.
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