Trivandrum
(AsiaNews) - India and Italy will jointly conduct ballistic tests on board the
Enrica Lexie. Responding to a request of Giampaolo Cutillo, Italian consul in
Mumbai, the High Court of Kerala ordered the test be postponed, initially set
for today, until tomorrow to allow technical staff from the Italian police
(Carabinieri) to reach Kochi harbour, where the oil tanker is berthed. This additional sign of openness comes a day
after the prosecutor decided to extend the detention of the Italian marines, Massimiliano
Latorre and Salvatore Girone, without formally arresting the two.
"The people
of Kerala and the families of the fishermen are satisfied about how the case is
unfolding," said Fr Stephen G. Kulakkayathil, secretary general of Kerala Region
Latin Catholic Council (KRLCC). Speaking to AsiaNews,
he said, "Finally, Indian and Italian authorities have found the right approach,
which is to work together."
"We want to see
an appropriate investigation so that every aspect of the case is clear: ship's
position, distance, weapons, etc. Working together is the only way to determine
who is really responsible for these deaths."
Speaking about
the controversy surrounding the autopsy of the two fishermen, Fr Kulakkayathil said,
"The autopsy did take place. I was on the beach when the coast guard brought
back the bodies, which were immediately taken to the local morgue. The next
morning, police moved them to Trivandrum's Medical College Hospital. Tests indicate
that Gelastine died from a gunshot to the head. Binki died instead from a wound
to the chest. Two bullets, that's all."
Meanwhile, the position
of Italian authorities has not changed. According to the Italian Navy, oil
tanker Enrica Lexie was in international, not Indian waters when the incident occurred.
The number of
shots fired also does not add up. For Italy, there were two bursts of machinegun
fire (in the air and in the water), a single burst of 60 shots according to India.
The presence of
another ship, the Olympic Fair, also casts its shadow over the whole affair. The
Greek-flagged ship is said to be very similar to the Italian ship and was also involved
in gunfire.
Greek authorities
have denied the claim, saying that no ship fitting that description was in the
Indian Ocean at the time. (GM)
_0224_-_Prove_balistiche.jpg)
