BHARATA BHARATI

“The interplay of faith and loyalty to Rome in this particular case became more apparent when two Italian priests flew down to Kerala on a secret visit to meet the families of the victims in the first week of March. … Strangely, the Indian church feigned ignorance about the visit and even went to the extent of saying that it is common for a Catholic priest to pray for the deceased. Later, it denied any deals being brokered and said that the priests were as a ‘spiritual exercise.'” – Cithara Paul

It is learnt that ‘Catholic diplomacy’ might have played a decisive role in the ‘home delivery’ of the two Italian marines the first time and is now engaged in bringing out an amicable end to the contested issue that has affected diplomatic relations between both countries.

It may have been a sheer coincidence that Syro-Malabar Church Major Archbishop Cardinal George Alencherry was in Rome on February 25 when the Italian Government went back on its ambassador’s promise to the Indian Government on the return of the marines for trial. He was there to select the new Pope, but his presence there brought some old memories back—ones that the Catholic Church would prefer to forget.

It was Alencherry, head of Kerala-based Syro-Malabar Church—India’s largest and richest Catholic Church—who had made the controversial statement that he would try his best to “pacify the situation’’. “I am and will remain in close contact with the Catholic ministers of Kerala and I hope that they will help to pacify the situation… I guarantee, in the next few days, my constant involvement with the Indian authorities on the matter,” Agenzia Fides, a Vatican News agency, had quoted him on February 18.

Agenzia Fides subsequently withdrew its report without giving any explanation. However, Alencherry’s words generated a storm and the Indian Catholic establishment was initially at sea to suppress the backlash. After denying Alencherry’s statement outright—though he was on record—the Indian Catholic Church did its best to prove that its loyalty to Rome was “merely spiritual’’.

Despite its best efforts, the interplay of faith and loyalty to Rome in this particular case became more apparent when two Italian priests flew down to Kerala on a secret visit to meet the families of the victims in the first week of March. Details of the visit became public, when one of the family members accidentally blurted out the details to regional media. Strangely, the Indian church feigned ignorance about the visit and even went to the extent of saying that it is common for a Catholic priest to pray for the deceased. Later, it denied any deals being brokered and said that the priests were as a “spiritual exercise.”

The Catholic Bishops Council of India (CBCI), the decision-making body of the Indian Catholics, denies that it has any role to play in the case. “The Indian Catholic Church has no way got involved in this case. How can we, since both the killed and the accused are Catholics? It is wrong to suspect our loyalty just because our spiritual head belongs to Rome,’’ said a senior priest with the CBCI.

Yet, the family of the victims signed an agreement with the Italian government and settled the case for compensation following the visit of the curates. They even wrote a separate legal letter addressed to the Italian Consul General saying they do not want the Italian marines, whom they have addressed as “brothers’’ to be prosecuted. The letter also says that they are forgiving the Italian brothers in the name of Jesus Christ.

A report dated April 30 in an Italian website called Italy Defence [see report below], and titled ‘Italian marines to be freed soon’, says that “the situation changed for the better, when Catholic priests arrived in Kerala from Rome, to mediate with the slain fishermen’s families (Both the fishermen belonged to Roman Catholic congregations). Mar George Alencherry, the Cardinal of the Catholic Church in Kerala, also agreed to mediate between the two sides. Finally, on April 24, 2012 the Italian government agreed to pay a compensation of €150,000 to each of the two families and the Indian side agreed to drop all the charges against the marines.’’

Strangely, the Catholic community in Kerala is largely silent on the issue except for some lone voices like the Left-leaning Kerala Catholic Federation, which has urged the Union Government to view Italy’s decision not to send back the two Italian marines “seriously’’. V. K. Joy, federation general secretary, had alleged that Alencherry and Latin Catholic Church Major Archbishop M. Susaipakiam had worked in favour of the Italian marines. The organisation has also demanded that the activities of the Major Archbishop and the Cardinal should be investigated. 

The repercussions of this case on Kerala’s political terrain are yet to be seen. The Latin Catholic Community is a traditional solid vote base of Congress, and the Left parties led by the CPI(M) are trying their best to fish in the troubled waters. – Sunday Standard, 17 March 2013

Italy Defence Report of 30 April 2012: Jailed Italian marines to be freed soon

Reports indicate that Latorre Massimiliano and Salvatore Girone, the two Italian marines who were imprisoned in the Indian state of Kerala for accidentally shooting two local fishermen, will be freed soon.

A senior police officer informed the press today that the Italian vessel, Enrica Lexie, will also be released within a few days.

The shooting incident occurred on February 15th, when the two marines mistook the fishermen for pirates, and shot at them. Two of the fishermen, Ajesh Pink and Gelastine died on the spot. The Indian Coast Guard immediately arrested the two marines responsible for the incident. The Italian side argues that the shots were fired on self-defense and that the incident occurred in international waters, where the Indian Coast Guard does not have the jurisdiction powers. According to the Indians, the firing was unprovoked and indiscriminate, and occurred within the territorial waters of India. The vessel, MV Enrica Lexie, was travelling from Singapore to Egypt, with a crew of 34, which included 19 Indians and six Italian marines.

The incident worsened the diplomatic relations between India and Italy. Sonia Gandhi (born Antonia Edvige Albina Maino), the leader of the ruling Indian National Congress and an ethnic Italian, had to step in to resolve the diplomatic standoff. The relatives of the two slain fishermen demanded a compensation of Rs.1 crore from the owners of Enrica Lexie. The state government had announced a compensation of Rs. 500, 000 to each of the victims’ families.

The situation changed for the better, when Catholic priests arrived in Kerala from Rome, to mediate with the slain fishermen’s families (Both the fishermen belonged to Roman Catholic congregations). Mar George Alencherry, the Cardinal of the Catholic Church in Kerala also agreed to mediate between the two sides. Finally, on April 24, the Italian government agreed to pay a compensation of €150,000 to each of the two families and the Indian side agreed to drop all the charges against the marines.

As the charges are dropped, it is expected that the two Italian marines will arrive in their home country within a matter of few days. But some confusion still remains whether the gunshots which killed the fishermen came from Enrica Lexie or from some other vessel which was cruising nearby. Olympic Flair, the Greek tanker was also involved in a shooting incident on February 15, but the Indian Coast Guard never bothered to enquire the Greek crewmen about that incident. – Italy Defence, 30 April 2013

Bereaved fishermen families got only money, justice still awaits them – John Mary

Justice eludes the bereaved families and survivors of the ill-fated fishing boat, St Antony, which came under ‘unprovoked’ firing from Italian marines on board the oil tanker, Enrica Lexie, off the Kerala shores on February 15 last year.

The most visible commiseration came in the form of a quick relief by the shipping company, which paid Rs 1 crore each to families of Jelestine, 50, and Ajish Pinky, 21, who were killed in the firing. Jelestine’s family lives in Kollam in Kerala while the unmarried Pinky’s siblings live at Thuthur near Kaliyikkavila in Tamil Nadu. With parents dead, the siblings are under the care of their aunt, Ms Jennet Mary.

The kin of the slain fishermen have no doubt that the marines deserve deterrent punishment. More, every fishing boat on the Indian coast is at the potential risk of being hit by trigger-happy marshals on foreign merchant vessels.

“You can’t buy our honour for Rs 1 crore; even if you give us several crores, I will still demand that the marines be brought back and tried by the law of the land. Or, they would do this again. Need not be Italians, some others on different foreign vessels that pass by their hundreds along the Arabian coast”, said Jennet Mary.

J. Freddy, skipper of the ill-fated fishing boat, St Antony,   and Ms Dora, widow of Jelestine (Valentine), feel they have been short-changed by the system, apathetic towards a social outlier community. The apathy raises questions on the commitment of the State in prosecuting the killers.

“Letting off the marines to vote in Italy has turned out to be a cruel joke. The trial should have started already, by which India could display its resolve to ensure justice for victims” said Ms Dora.

Said Ms Dora’s brother and director of Quilon Social Service Society, Fr Rajesh Martin: “We are ignorant of the Vienna Convention on diplomatic immunity and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. But we follow the local political discourse very much, which sadly hasn’t hastened the process of justice”.

True, the political debate is quite strident in Kerala. Tamil Nadu is relatively calm though Ajish Pinky belonged there.  “If the Italian ambassador can’t bring back the marines, put him in jail”, shouts CPM politburo member and former Kerala Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan in front of the Government Secretariat.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy couldn’t be seen any less combative: “The onus of bringing back the marines is on the Centre”.

But now it’s as if the living seek livelihood options from the dead. When the apathetic system threw him and the eight other surviving crewmen to the vagaries of fate and the law, rustic wisdom drew the skipper Freddy to the widows, wondering whether they could spare some funds for the rest of the survivors.

“Are we the arbiters of the fund in the name of our children; it’s been on account of death the breadwinner?” Freddy quoted Dora’s reaction.

“I used to steer my vessel from its wheelhouse. What a tragedy is this? No job. I can’t be a deckhand”, rues Freddy, whose debts far exceed his Rs 17 lakh settlement with the shipping company. 

“After paying the lawyer’s fee and allied expenses, I have just `8 lakh left. Though I urged Kerala Government to give me a boat, the authorities came up with impossible conditions”, said Mr Freddy, who has a large family to support.  – Deccan Chronicle, 17 March 2013

See also

• Indian cardinal intervenes on behalf of Italian Catholic shooters – AsiaOne

• Italy vs India: Marines will not return to India to stand trial for murder – Rediff News

• Italy shoots, Norway abducts, India bleeds – T.J.S. George

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