India charges marines with anti-piracy law, Italy warns against it

Italy on Monday warned it would "react" to India's "unacceptable" move to invoke a severe anti-piracy law against two of its marines facing trial there since 2012 over the killings of two Indian fishermen.

"The charge sought by Indian authorities is unacceptable," Prime Minister Enrico Letta said in a message on his Twitter handle. "Italy and the European Union will react." His comments came after Indian authorities said the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is probing the matter, would prosecute marines Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone under the maritime security law SUA.

The SUA carries death penalty. However, India last week removed the possibility of a death penalty but insisted that the marines would still be prosecuted under the anti-piracy law. Now, they face up to 10 years in jail. Earlier in a separate statement, the Italian government said it has "reserved the right to take any action" necessary after Indian prosecutors confirmed their intention to charge the marines with terrorism.

Italy also called on India's Supreme Court to "decide on reasonable charges" in line "with the judgement of January 18," when the same court "ruled out the application of the anti-terrorism law", Italian news agency ANSA reported quoting the statement. Meanwhile, Italian Defence Minister Mario Mauro flew to New Delhi to keep a close eye on the case.

In New Delhi, the apex court on Monday set February 18 as the next date for hearing arguments from both the sides on the use of the anti-piracy law. Italy had approached the Supreme Court on January 15 amid fears that the NIA intends to prosecute the marines under the anti-terror Suppression of Unlawful Acts against safety of Maritime Navigation And Fixed Platforms on Continental Shelf Act (SUA).

The marines allegedly shot dead two fishermen off the Kerala coast in February 2012, sparking diplomatic tensions between India and Italy. The marines, deployed on the Italian-flagged oil tanker MT Enrica Lexie, have said they mistook the fishermen for pirates. They are now staying in the Italian Embassy in New Delhi awaiting trial.

Rome wants the marines to be tried in Italy, claiming the incident took place in international waters. However, New Delhi said it has the right to try the Italian personnel as the victims were Indians on board an Indian fishing boat.