Indian Supreme Court rejects travel

(ANSA) - Rome, December 16 - Italian President Giorgio Napolitano and other politicians expressed displeasure after India's Supreme Court decided on Tuesday to reject requests by two Italian marines for permission to spend Christmas vacation with their families in Italy.
    The two marines, accused in the deaths of two Indian fishermen almost three years ago, asked for travel leave. Massimiliano Latorre has been in Italy for medical treatment but was refused permission to remain longer.
    The Indian court also refused permission for Salvatore Girone to travel to Italy for Christmas, the Press Trust of India said.
    "The President of the Republic is greatly displeased by the news coming from New Delhi about the latest negative developments in the case of the marines," Napolitano's office said in a statement.
    "He will remain in close contact the government and will closely follow guidelines to be determined in the Parliament", the statement said.
    The case dates to February 2012 when the two marines were on anti-piracy duty and two fishermen were shot.
    The case has led to tense relations between India and Italy, which says that because the two marines were on international duty, India does not have jurisdiction.
    Other Italian politicians spoke out, in Rome and at the European Union parliament in Brussels. Forza Italia (FI) referred to the "unjust detention" of Latorre and Girone.
    FI deputy leader Mariastella Gelmini said that the Indian court's refusal of travel requests by the Italian marines was "an outrage to Italy".
    She added that is was "yet another a provocation to Italy, and also Europe". Northern League vice-president GianLuca Pini said that it proved the Italian government's role in the six-month rotating presidency of the European Union had had no effect on the marines case.
    Lara Comi, representing the FI in the European Parliament, called India's decision "a very serious violation of human rights".