Questions, My Lord

Did Massimiliano Latorre [L] and Salvatore Girone [G] ‘deliberately’ fire? 

Did L and G ‘mistake’ Indian trawler ‘St. Antony’ to be a pirate boat?

Should it be considered, ‘St. Antony’, unregistered under The Indian Merchant Shipping Act, 1958, did not raise the Indian Flag?

Indian Authorities are permitted to prosecute Foreign Nationals for supposed crimes committed outside India? Surely, a Country cannot act beyond its jurisdiction unless the same is allowed by a Convention, Custom or a Treaty. The incident occurred beyond the territory of India to which location the sovereignty of the Country does not extend.

Was the incident an ‘incident of navigation’ within the meaning of Article 97(1) of The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea? We await a defined expression.

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My Lord, Did the Marines actually fire at St. Antony?

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Some years ago, 3 Italians had travelled to India and were staying together in 1 hotel room. One morning, 2 of them left for an early morning walk and returned to find the 3rd dead. Tomaso and Elisa were stuck in jail for 4 years until finally there were held not-guilty for The Death of Francesco Montis. We are still not aware what caused Mr. Montis to say goodbye. We are also not aware how and why ‘St. Antony’ witnessed 2 deaths. For cases like these, arguments continue for years, the truth being at the centre of a pendulum clock.

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“After almost 7 years their story is not over yet“, said Minister Trenta, yesterday, at the end of the talks at Palazzo Baracchini. “Today I met them, separately as planned, to express not only the proximity of this Government, but of the whole Country, because in these cases it is necessary that all political and civil forces, indiscriminately, show themselves united and compact around our 2 Navy riflemen.” On October 22nd, the Arbitration shall be opened before the Judges in order to determine: who among Italy and India will have to Judge the military.

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This is the second piece I produce.  I decide to share a story. Many years ago, a Prime Minster of India, married to an Italian – Ms. Sonia Gandhi [originally Sonia Maino], was assassinated. It was a terror strike by a foreign group on Indian soil. It is of intense interest, the Prime Minister’s family has forgiven those involved.

The events of 15th February, 2002 are regretted. It is not merely the Marines who are suffering. What are we battling for? I believe in God. I pray for Italy. This is not a contest that India can want to win. Of course, at the end of it all, a lot shall remain unanswered. I accept.