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Malta boat tragedy sufferers meet Italian president, PM

An Indian delegation of Malta Boat Tragedy Sufferers Association has submitted letters to Italian President Oscar Luigi Scalfaro and Prime Minister Massimo D'Alema, demanding justice to the victims of the December 24, 1996 accident on the Ionion sea near Sicily.

The delegation led by association patron Balwant Singh Khera also met Italian officials and presented a comprehensive report of the Intelligence Bureau on the accident which led to the drowning of about 280 illegal immigrants, mostly from India.

The fact-finding mission held a series of meetings with ruling party members and senior officials of the foreign ministry and the police department who apprised the delegates of the progress in the inquiry being conducted by them, Khera said.

Khera said senator Tana de Zulleta had planned to hold an international conference in Naples in the third week of January to which delegates from all countries concerned had been invited.

Some of the victims were from Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Since the culprits were from several countries, justice could not be done without the cooperation of all the states concerned, Khera said.

In the letters to the president and the prime minister, the delegation said, ''In the name of human rights, we appeal to you to trace the culprits responsible for this human tragedy.''

The delegation has scheduled a meeting with the foreign minister and ministry officials during its three-day Italy visit, from December 13. The meeting has been arranged by high-ranking ruling party officials Ugo Papi and Guilio Givisi.

UNI

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