‘A Certain Maritime Incident is a remarkable achievement ... It is a meticulous presentation of the facts, piecing together in remarkable detail the story of the SIEV X ... The book is an essential read for all those involved in the campaign for a more humane refugee policy. It also has an important audience among those concerned with the potential for government lies and deception on a scale far more sinister than the “children overboard” incident.’
Sarah Stephen, Green Left Weekly
‘a carefully researched book’
Helen Pausacker, Inside Indonesia
'In his outstanding investigation of the national shame and disgrace shrouding this incident, former Australian Diplomat, Tony Kevin, questions how this tragic event was allowed to occur . . . A Certain Maritime Incident is a critical examination of the moral, ethical and legal flotsam and jetsam precariously floating around the story of this doomed boat.'
Chelsea Rodd, JAS Review of Books
‘Overall, this book provides a well-researched and insightful examination of the SIEV X incident. Kevin is to be highly commended for bringing the tragedy and the serious questions that remain unanswered to our attention.’
Paul Bellamy, New Zealand International Review
‘Kevin has put his professional skills of analysis at the service of the truth, exposing the flim-flam, evasions and lies for what they are. It requires a special grace to stick at this sort of work, knowing that it may bring you derision or worse at the hands of powerful people.’
Father Edmund Campion, Online Catholics
‘Was the Australian Government involved in the deliberate sinking of the SIEV X and the deaths of 353 people? Kevin, by his own admission, raises more questions than he can answer. Reading A Certain Maritime Incident, however, it becomes difficult to believe that the answer to this final, crucial question could be ‘No’.’
Jess Whyte, overland
‘The book is a read of serious consequence.’
Alexander Symonds, Pulse, Vibewire.net
‘Disagree or agree with the assertions and inferences made in this book, it is undoubtedly one of the best current affairs books released this year.’
Sukrit Sabhlok, Pulse, Vibewire.net
‘You will be deeply moved by this book, from sorrow to anger, as the counts of government misconduct and cover up grow with each passing page. Behaviour we would expect more from a proud Latin-American Junta than a western democracy. An essential book for those interested in uncovering the "hidden history" that has become part and parcel of modern Australian government. My vote for non-fiction of the year.’
Dean Merlino, Readings August Newsletter
'a passionate, heartfelt and very detailed account of the tragic sinking of a vessel — which later became known as SIEV X (suspected illegal entry vessel X) — on October 19, 2001, with the deaths of 353 asylum seekers.'
Louise Dodson, Sydney Morning Herald
'a careful and well-researched argument . . . [Kevin's] resolute and single-minded determination to uncover the truth deserves considerable respect and public admiration. At great personal cost, Kevin has upheld the finest traditions of public service, in the process exposing the politicisation of the federal bureaucracy and the lack of accountability in Australian government today.'
Scott Burchill, The Age
‘timely and excellent’
Robin Osborne, The Northern Rivers Echo
‘This 306-page investigative tour de force uncovers many nuggets of information that leave the reader distinctly uncomfortable. Not dissimilar to former intelligence officer Andrew Wilkie's Axis Of Deceit (Black Inc), Kevin fears "there are no longer meaningful checks and balances if a prime minister, the national security ministers and their senior advisers are prepared to manipulate information to cover up politically inconvenient truths". Our very democracy is in a parlous state, Kevin passionately articulates, and yet both major parties and big media appear content to continue diminishing its checks and balances through outright collusion.’
The Sun-Herald
‘A Certain Maritime Incident: the sinking of SIEV X is an arresting account and painstaking reconstruction of what happened to the SIEV X and its passengers after it capsized in 2001 ... Convincingly argued and meticulously researched, Kevin's book includes new and startling allegations about possible Australian involvement in the boat's sabotage, reveals glaring discrepancies in official accounts of the voyage and, importantly, brings forward the rarely heard voices of survivors, many of whom are now living in Australia. Kevin's determination to seek the truth, despite the personal cost, results in a courageous and impressive work of investigative writing that raises important questions and reaches disturbing conclusions about the extent and consequences of the Government's border protection operations ... Until such time as a judicial inquiry allows further evidence to be presented, this rigorous account is a vital public record of what happened to SIEV X.’
Judges comments, 2005 NSW Premier’s Literary Awards
‘This is a powerful, startling and nationally important work of non-fiction about the migration experience. Tony Kevin's journalistic integrity and exhaustive research are impeccable in his account of the sinking of the SIEV X in the seas between Australian and Indonesia in 2001 ... This is a book of national significance, and goes to the heart of our country's ability to show compassion and to be truthful; it also breathtaking to read.’
Judges comments, 2005 NSW Premier’s Literary Awards
‘This is a brave and important book, illustrating the power of non-fiction writing to intervene in current political crises in the face of journalistic amnesia and government obfuscation.’
Age Book of the Year, judges comments
‘Treatment of refugees is one of the great scandals of the modern age… With impressive courage and determination, Tony Kevin has unearthed the grim and deeply moving story he recounts in this remarkable book — an "always powerfully contested story," and one of "durable national significance" that has "crept into the hearts and consciences of many Australians" and must find its way to the hearts and consciences of many others if these persistent and shocking crimes are to be brought to end.’
Noam Chomsky
