Statements made by Cardinal George Alencherry in the wake of the killing of two Indian fishermen by Italian mariners have sparked criticism from opposition party members in Kerala state.

Rome-based Agenzia Fides news service quoted the new cardinal yesterday as saying that he “has taken an interest in mediating and seeking a peaceful solution to the delicate situation.”

VS Achuthanandan, head of the Marxist Party in the Kerala legislative assembly, said the criminal case did not warrant mediation.

“Two fishermen were killed…and the cardinal reportedly wants the issue resolved through mediation. If he thinks the Italians are above the law, it’s a heinous act,” the 89-year-old Marxist leader said.

However in a statement of clarification issued today from Fides, Cardinal Alencherry denied any offer of mediation and said a full investigation was required.

“This event has to be investigated and, if there is a culpable action, it has to be dealt with legally and the culprit has to be punished. Truth and justice have to be established.

He also sought to clarify what he suggested was a misunderstanding of previous statements.

“What I said the other day parenthetically was that this event shall not become a cause for conflicts and enmity in the communities and between nations. I have no intention to take a mediatory role in the settling of this matter.”

Achuthanandan also took issue with another statement reportedly made by Alencherry yesterday in which he urged Kerala opposition parties not to exploit the situation for political purposes.

“We have been closely monitoring the situation, and how can the cardinal say that the opposition is taking advantage of the situation?”

Cardinal Alencherry’s reported statements came a day after a magistrate remanded into custody two guards of an Italian oil tanker for their alleged shooting of two fishermen on February 15.

Father Paul Thelakat, spokesman for the Syro-Malabar Church, said the media had misquoted Cardinal Alencherry and denied that he had made any attempt to shield the arrested Italian guards from prosecution.

“Let the law take its own course of action. We are no party to it,” he said.

Cardinal Alencherry is currently in Rome, where he and 21 other prelates last week received their investiture as cardinals.

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