The killing of two Indian fishermen off the coast of Kerala last week by Italian Navy marines who mistook them to be pirates is tragic, not in the least because the deaths were entirely avoidable. If only the Italians had not been trigger-happy, they would have found that the fishermen posed no threat to the ship and the crew. Instead, the callous Italians chose to shoot first and ask later; in the process, two Indian lives were lost.
It is now established on the basis of the harrowing accounts of the fishermen who barely escaped with their lives that the crew of Enrica Lexie indulged in indiscriminate firing, much like Italy’s ruthless mafia, in violation of established international norms and guidelines.
For instance, after firing warning shots in the air, the crew did not carry out the mandatory evasive manoeuvres to see if the so-called pirates were tailing their ship even after it had changed course. Had the Italians done so, they would have known that the fishing vessel was not carrying pirates. Neither did the crew bother to inform the Mumbai-based Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre of the perceived threat from pirates, as it was expected to do. That the crew contacted Mumbai only after shooting dead two fishermen tells its own story of criminal callousness. Additionally, the fact that India’s waters are not, by common consent, pirate-infested, leaves the crew of Enrica Lexie with nothing to justify their criminal misdeed.
Indian authorities have done well to respond in a firm manner. Murder charges have been filed against the crew of Enrica Lexie by Kochi Police, and the law should be allowed to take its course. Differences remain over the jurisdiction of the case — while Indian authorities claim that the ship was in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone, 14 nautical miles off Alappuzha at the time of the incident and hence its crew should be tried under Indian law, the Italians insist that only international laws should apply.
Either way, the case should be taken to its logical conclusion. By being rather uncooperative and even belligerent, the Italians have only displayed their contempt for India and Indians. Lying about having come under fire from the fishing vessel, when the Indian Coast Guard has conclusively proved that there are no bullet marks on the Italian ship, has exposed the Italians further. As authorities await the arrival of a high-level delegation from Italy — in the absence of which the crew has refused to get off the ship — the situation is now on the brink of a diplomatic stand-off between India and Italy.
It is expected that the Government of India will remain firm and call the bluff of the Italians. Not to do so would trigger needless speculation as to why the Italian killers of Indians have gone unpunished.
