Italian Govt. to SC: Invoking SUA amounts to 'Italy being termed a terrorist state'

The Italian government on Wednesday approached the Supreme Court challenging invocation of anti-terrorism law against its two marines, Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone, stating that it "would tantamount to the Republic of Italy being termed a terrorist state".

The petition is likely to be taken up by the apex court on January 20.

The petition has also sought direction to the Centre and NIA to speed up the proceedings in the case or discharge the marines on the ground of delay in trials.

"Invoking the anti-terrorism SUA (Suppression of Unlawful Acts against safety of Maritime Navigation And Fixed Platforms on Continental Shelf) Act would tantamount to the Republic of Italy being termed a terrorist state and acts of its organs, which were in repression of piracy, as being deemed as acts of terrorism, which is wholly untenable and unacceptable in the facts and circumstances of this case and in keeping with the comity of nations and international cooperation," the petition stated.

According to reports, the joint petition, filed by Ambassador of Italy Daniele Mancini along with the Italian marines Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone, submitted that the draft protocol of 2005 to the SUA convention expressly excludes the applicability of the convention to activities undertaken by the military forces of a State in the exercise of their official duties.

The two Italian marines were arrested in February last year for shooting to death two Indian fishermen from onboard merchant vessel "Enrica Lexie" about 20 nautical miles off Kerala, 'mistaking' them for Somali pirates.