Miffed at India’s handling of the trial of its two marines on murder charges, Italy has said it will again knock on the doors of the U.N., the EU and even the Commonwealth to press New Delhi to deal with the case quickly.
Italy accused Indian authorities of “ambiguous and unreliable” behaviour after India’s Supreme Court on Tuesday postponed till February 24 the hearing of the case involving marines Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone.
The families of the two marines were frustrated with a series of delays in the case that had been dragging on without charges for two years, Italian media reported on Wednesday.
Foreign Minister Emma Bonino has said she will be urging a range of allies, from the NATO military alliance to the U.N. as well as the European Union, to press the Indian government to deal with the situation.
The case is “not bilateral” but has international importance and thus, requires a coordinated response, she told local media. “We can’t go and get them by military force” but “several initiatives” are open to the incoming government, Ms. Bonino said.
The Minister said Rome was even considering asking the Commonwealth group of countries to take an interest in the case.
The marines “cannot be victims of delays and complexities” amid continued uncertainty whether India will press terrorism charges, Ms. Bonino was quoted as saying by Italian news agency ANSA.
Earlier this month, Italy had petitioned the U.N. over the trial of its two marines in India under a strict anti-piracy law. However, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon asked Rome to resolve the issue bilaterally.
