Massimiliano and Savior, the Sacrifice of the Innocent

28/12/15

I understand the low profile of the Government, to settle the long-running story. But the silence has become embarrassing.

Let's start by order. Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone are two non-commissioned officers of the navy employed in military protection units. These units are provided for by law no. 130 of 2011 to protect merchant and passenger ships flying the national flag from piracy. An agreement between CONFITARMA and the Ministry of Defense establishes its use and payment methods for the service. Basically, the shipping company guarantees the military units accommodation, meals and pays 500 euros per day directly to the Ministry of Economy and Finance for each of them.

This short preamble to emphasize that Massimiliano and Salvatore were not there on vacation and then kidnapped. Usually the state in kidnapping cases, even if always denied, has paid large sums of money to the kidnappers to save the lives of our compatriots. He did very well, human life is priceless and must not be the subject of mediation.

Salvatore and Massimiliano were there on the mission. They were the "longa manus" of the state in international waters to protect national interests.

For a series of "vicissitudes, errors, horrors", they, indeed, the Italian state has been systematically mocked by the Indian authorities. Maybe because Sonia Gandhi, of Italian origin? The most serious was the accusation of terrorism against our two soldiers. They wanted to try them under the anti-piracy law - His Act - albeit without taking into account the part that provides for the death penalty. As requested by the Indian prosecutor, he "assimilated" the case of the two Italian riflemen accused of killing two Indian fishermen "to an act of terrorism". That is, Italy was a terrorist country !!!

After this offense and after exhausting postponements, of which I have lost count, Italy has finally asked for the institution of international arbitration. The International Court of the Law of the Sea acknowledged last August that the case should no longer be of Indian jurisdiction. Now the International Arbitration Court of the Hague will have to be expressed in a few days.

On August 6, 2015, the Indian Supreme Court suspended all judicial proceedings against the marines, setting a new hearing on the case for January 13, 2016, two days before the expiry of the extension of the permission granted to Massimiliano Latorre to be treated in Italy.

The question is rigorously questioned: why has international arbitration been reached only now, repeatedly asked in a loud voice by former Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi?

There have been three governments and as many ministers and nothing has changed. Do economic interests have more meaning when the honor and credibility of a country is trampled on?

Also in terms of commercial exchanges between the two countries, so venerated, we received, in return, loud mockery and situations of international embarrassment. One for all of Agustawestland's 12 helicopters for the Indian Air Force. At the time the Monti Government, as we read in the print media, was very sensitive to the subject.

What is the use of mortifying two marine fusiliers and the Italian people? Let us not forget that the Indian government, at the height of the crisis, forbade the Italian ambassador Daniele Mancini to leave the country, breaking all international rules on diplomatic immunities. Ah, it's true! Money can do everything. India is the third world economy of emerging countries and Italy is the fourth European trading partner after Germany, the United Kingdom and Belgium. The approximately 20 billion euros of commercial exchanges, at stake, would be enough to justify the "sacrifice".

Dear Massimiliano and Salvatore, soon, as everyone now says, the story will find its natural evolution, instead in you it will remain the sign for the whole life and sorry that if you will be remembered, if anything you will be, only for the controversy with India and not for the pain you have passed, for having been in service on the wrong day and in the wrong place.

Femaz

(in the photo the president Sergio Mattarella in telephone connection with Salvatore Girone - source presidency of the republic)