Call it relief or part of an effort to quickly solve the Enrica Lexie issue. The top brass of the Italian ministry has agreed to pay blood money and bear the education expenses of Derreck, son of Jelestine, the fisherman killed in the firing from the Italian oil tanker off the Kerala shore in February.
It is also likely that the boy will be given a visa to go to Italy, sources said, but there is no word on any such offer to the family of the other fisherman killed in the firing incident, Ajeesh Pink.
Sources close to Jelestine’s family told this newspaper that the compensation suits pending before court will take time to resolve and in this context, the fisherman’s family has been put into a dilemma — whether to accept the offer or wait for help from a prolonged legal fight with the Italians.
It is learnt that the Catholic Church in Rome has also got involved into the issue by putting up a proposal for giving a Visa to Italy for Derreck, who turned 18 last week, for his continuing education.
On condition of anonymity a friend of the late Jelestine’s family said, “We are Catholics and believers of the Church. We have not decided on anything, we might accept a reasonable settlement offer.”
Dora, wife of Jelestine, however took a neutral position, saying the negotiations were still going on and they haven’t decided on anything yet.
The discussion was going in the right direction, the source said. “It is unfortunate that many in the legal profession are treating the family like a commodity for bargain and are forcing them to arrive at a consensus and accept a meagre offer,” the source said.
There is also an alleged angle of hostility in resolving the case from the side of the police, as the source emphasised that the cops had criticised them for moving the court.
It is learnt that the catholic diocese of Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram have intervened in the issue. Religious heads and priests from Italy have recently paid a visit to the family and had talks. Father Mark and Joseph reached Kollam and visited the families of the deceased fishermen.
Counsel for the other killed fisherman, Ajeesh Pink, Adv Shyam Kumar, said no one from Italy had approached them for any kind of out-of-court settlement.
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Sarabjit kin seek hearing by pak prez
Narayan Bareth
Jaipur, April 6
Indian national Sarabjit Singh’s sister Dalbir Kaur and daughter Swapandeep sought permission from the authorities to allow them to submit a request letter to Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari when he visits Ajmer shrine.
“We humbly request for a hearing from the Pakistan President to make a request with folded hands for release of my brother,” said Ms Kaur.
Both Ms Kaur and Swapandeep came here with the hope to make an appeal on this occasion. “We will offer a chadar at the shrine for the release of Sarabjit,” said Sarabjit’s sister.
Her brother Sarabjit has been languishing in a Pakistan jail for more than two decades and his mercy petition is pending with the Pakistan President.
Ms Kaur and the Hindustani Manch’s Sandeep Gupta said the late Benazir Bhutto visited the shrine when Mr Zardari was in jail and offered prayers for his release.
“We are on the same way to offer prayers here and will try to draw attention of President Zardari to Sarabjit’s release,” she said.