Blog: In Italy, marines' return tests national pride

Rome: A political storm is starting to brew over the marines' issue in Italy. On Tuesday, the Italian Defence and Foreign ministers have to explain to the Italian Parliament as to why the marines were sent back to India.

Some politicians are beginning to accuse Mario Monti's government of mismanagement. It seems the Italians relented because they realised their strategy was simply not going to work. Not respecting an undertaking given by the ambassador to the Supreme Court was not a legally sound choice. But many in Rome believe there was no other way to push India to agree to certain conditions and to establish a special court without delay.

Getting the marines back is being seen as a diplomatic coup for India. But the Italian government has spelt out its conditions. It does not want the marines to be in custody for the period of the trial and wants the marines to be spared the death penalty. Italy's message is clear. They don't want their marines to be treated shoddily. The decision to send them back was made by an inter-ministerial committee that deals with matters of national security. The announcement was made by the Italian Prime Minister's office.

This is an emotive issue in Italy, as well as a question of national pride. Some say they'd like their sailors, who are part of the Italian navy, to be treated as two Indian soldiers would have been treated, had this happened in Italy. Many said the marines should be punished if they are guilty but not too harshly.

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But not all Italians think the marines should have stayed in Italy. There are also those who say India had been overly generous and respectful in letting the marines come to Italy twice despite the charges against them. Now that Italy and India have come out of the immediate diplomatic impasse, perhaps the focus will now shift to the key question - are these marines guilty of murder or not?

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