"A Certain Maritime Incident – the sinking of SIEV X " , Tony Kevin, (Scribe): - - progress report on book launch events, upcoming radio interviews, messages from Senator Bob Brown and Peter King M.P.

The ten days since August 2, when my book went on sale, have seen a hectic round of launches and author events in Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra, and radio interviews with stations around Australia. Upcoming interviews are:

Phillip Adams on Late Night Live, to be broadcast on Radio National at around 10.05 pm on Monday 16 August and repeated at 4 pm Tuesday afternoon, 17 August

Majida Abboud on the SBS national radio Arabic language program, on various frequencies around the states, {eg Canberra 105.5 FM] between 7 and 8 am on Tuesday 17 August ( in English, summary in Arabic)

John Barron on ABC Newsradio, Saturday afternoon 14 August.

Generous praise of the book’s scholarship and public importance was given by Julian Burnside QC (Melbourne, Readings Bookshop Carlton, 2 August), Margo Kingston

(Sydney, Gleebooks, Glebe, 6 August) and Professor William Maley (Canberra, Paperchain Bookstore, Manuka, 10 August). I will transcribe highlights of their remarks as soon as I have a moment. Meanwhile here are written messages from Senator Bob Brown on 1 August, and from Peter King MP (Liberal member for Wentworth, NSW) on 11 August:

 

Message from Senator Bob Brown (read out at event at Paperchain, Manuka, on 10 August):

"Dear Tony,

Thank you so much for "A Certain Maritime Incident – the sinking of SIEV X ".and the intellectual integrity and determination that goes with it.

This episode is not over. A judicial inquiry must come.

My very best wishes,

Bob Brown".

Message from Peter King MP (read out at event at Berkelouws, Paddington, Sydney on 11 August):

I would be grateful if you could pass on my apologies for the book launch tonight [11 August] as parliament is sitting, and deliver the following message to the author and the gathering on my behalf:

 

 "I am sorry that I can’t be with you tonight at the launch of Tony Kevin’s book: ‘A Certain Maritime Incident.’

 

Tony’s book is extraordinarily well researched and well written.

 

It provides a perceptive insight into one of the great maritime mysteries of modern times.

 

Sadly, the core of that mystery may never be fully known because the tragedy of the Siev X resulted in the deaths of 353 asylum seekers only three years ago and the events leading up to its sinking remain somewhat confused to many.

 

While on its voyage, and after it had left Indonesian waters, but not yet reached Australian waters, the ship became progressively unseaworthy – a prelude to the disaster that saw its demise.

 

In recent years, the political controversy of asylum seekers entering Australia has been a definitive issue. It has been an issue that has divided many people.

 

Be that as it may, it needs to be recorded that in this debate there has been conflicting evidence about whether Australian or Indonesian officials knew of the Siev X voyage and how much did they know.

 

Using his high-level research skills, investigative abilities and access to an amazing number of official and unofficial sources, Tony has shed a searchlight on what he believes happened before and after the Siev X sank.

 

His views are well-argued and the evidence he presents, well-selected and well-documented.

 

As a person who has specialised in maritime law, I must say that his book raises many interesting questions – especially questions about whether aid could have been rendered ‘for those in peril on the sea’ - which is the undisputed first law of humanitarianism in relation to sea-going.

 

This book will be controversial. It deserves to be.

 

This book will attract critics of its facts. That is part and parcel of recording and interpreting history. If you don’t believe me, ask Keith Windschuttle.

 

Writing a book is no easy task.

 

Writing a book about a controversial episode involving many complex incidents is a lot harder.

 

Even harder is writing a book about an episode and related events which has caused political division within Australia – its target audience.

 

That Tony has done this daunting task is to his credit.

 

The book deserves reading, careful study and discussion. Its style meets all three needs.

 

I wish Tony well with the book and I thank him for contributing to our historiography with this book." 

 

Kind regards and good wishes for a successful launch!

Peter King 

Tony Kevin, Canberra 12 August 2003