Pinarayi Vijayan Says Not In Favour Of Withdrawing Italian Marines Case From Top Court

It’s unlucky that the trial will not be happening in our nation, Pinarayi Vijayan mentioned (File)

Thiruvananthapuram:

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday mentioned it was unlucky that the trial of the Italian marines, accused of killing two fishermen off the Kerala coast in 2012, was not happening in India and mentioned the state was not in favour of withdrawing the case from the Supreme Court.

The Hague-headquartered Permanent Court of Arbitration Tribunal has upheld the conduct of the Indian authorities within the Enrica Lexie case during which the marines have been accused of killing the 2 Indian fishermen and mentioned New Delhi was entitled to get compensation within the case.

But the tribunal additionally said that the marines can’t be prosecuted as a result of official immunity loved by them.

“It’s unfortunate that the trial is not taking place in our country. Some media reports suggested that we were unable to pose our arguments well with the Tribunal. However, about the compensation, our country needs to take strong steps to ensure it,” Mr Vijayan mentioned.

When requested in regards to the Centre’s determination to file an affidavit within the Supreme Court to withdraw the case, Mr Vijayan mentioned Kerala was not in favour of it.

“If the centre is planning to withdraw the case, Kerala is not in favour of it and will inform the centre,” Mr Vijayan mentioned.

The worldwide tribunal had held that the 2 marines violated the worldwide regulation, and consequently Italy breached India’s freedom of navigation underneath the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava mentioned throughout a web-based media briefing on Thursday.