The diplomatic stand-off between India and Italy over two Italian marines accused of murdering two Indian fishermen reflects badly on both countries. In 2012, the marines, who were on anti-piracy duty aboard an Italian tanker in international waters in the Indian Ocean, opened fire of a suspected pirate boat. There is still some question over the Indian fishing vessel, which was behaving in a suspicious manner. Nevertheless since none of the fishermen was actively engaged in trying to attack the tanker, at the very least, the deadly fire from the Italian soldiers would seem to have been unjustified. This, however, will ultimately be a matter for a trial. The Italians are protesting that the Indian judicial system has failed to bring about that trial and that the two marines, who are now in India, are being unfairly treated. So angry have the authorities in Rome become that the Italian ambassador has just been recalled from New Delhi, as a clear sign of Italian displeasure. The facts of this case, however, deserve closer examination. When the Italian tanker, the Enrica Lexie, docked in India, the master of the ship reported the incident and the two marines were held for questioning. They claimed that the fishermen had been behaving like pirates and that as a result, they had fired warning shots toward their boat. Even if that were true, that salvo proved deadly for two of the Indian fishermen. Indeed, the Italian government seemed to accept that there was something very wrong with what happened, when only two months later it paid ten million rupees ($190,000) to each family. However, as with so many of such payments these days, there was no admission of guilt. Indian investigators were persuaded to release the two marines after the Italian authorities guaranteed that, as serving soldiers, they would be returned to India for any trial that resulted from the police inquiry. However, the Rome government of Mario Monti sought to welch on the deal at the last minute, saying that it required a range of assurances from the Indian authorities, including the guarantee that, if found guilty, the two marines would not face the death penalty. That refusal to honor a promise, freely given, ignited considerable anger in New Delhi. The Indian authorities began to look more closely at Italy's anti-piracy record and discovered that an Italian warship had sunk a captured pirate ship, having taken the crew prisoner, but without discovering that there were Thai hostages imprisoned in the hold. It is alleged that they have uncovered other incidents where the Italian navy has failed to follow strict rules of engagement nor conduct proper searches of captured suspect vessels. Faced with the possibility of Indian political sanctions, which included the scrapping of a lucrative Italian helicopter deal, Rome backed down and sent the two marines back. In the event, the helicopter contract was cancelled anyway over allegations of bribery and corruption. This may have informed the increasing Italian tetchiness over what is happening, or rather not happening to their two marines. Rome complains that the Indians have yet to even lay formal charges. There is also growing demand that since the alleged crime took place in international waters and on an Italian vessel, the suspects should be tried in Italy. With the helicopter deal in the trash and commercial relations elsewhere now extremely strained, Rome is signaling that it has lost patience. But in truth, neither government has behaved with outstanding diligence in this tragedy. Wiser heads need to prevail.
