Vannessa Hearman

The book I've written on the 1995 boat journey of a group of East Timorese refugees to Australia, 'The Good Sea', now has a cover and a presence on the @MUPublishing website. Out 12 May 2026, coinciding with 31-year anniversary of the boat's departure. mup.com.au/books/the-good…

@jordana_s_ Some writers are also already part of movements of people in struggle. Let's also acknowledge that. It's what fuels our/their writing and thinking.

i love this piece by André Dao so much, make sure you read every word.

In 'Looking both ways: The Timor Sea and Australia’s entanglements with Asia', I'll be speaking about place-based research practices in the writing of 'The Good Sea', my soon-to-be-published book. Join me at the John Curtin Gallery. events.humanitix.com/jcg-lunchtime-…

A re-watch of The Panama Deception, dir. Barbara Trent, 1993 Oscar winner for best documentary is essential. mediaburn.org/videos/the-pan…

Urban communities in downtown Panama burnt to the ground, their residents displaced. Estimated 2500-4000 civilians killed, many treated with flagrant disregard. Allegations of new weapons and kill methods being trialled in Panama.

What are the lessons of #Panama in these times? In 1989, why did the US under George Bush, invade Panama after indicting president Manuel Noriega (its own man in Panama) on drug charges?

New in paperback! Nurturing Indonesia This examination of the formation of the Indonesian medical profession reveals the relationship between medicine and decolonisation, and its importance to understanding Asian history. | Save 20% with code HMHIST26 📚 cup.org/3YFbPzf

@fbongiornoanu 'a truly great team into the future', long live Kennedy and Trump. Maybe Leavitt and DJT confused JFK with RFK?

And congrats to Presidents Lincoln, Garfield and McKinley ...

Di Papua, sebagian warga tolak kedatangan tentara karena militer batasi aktivitas berkebun, bahkan diduga ambil tanah warga untuk membangun pos. Di Aceh trauma soal DOM belum kunjung hilang. Jadi mengapa Menhan kirim lebih banyak tentara ke dua daerah ini? bbc.in/4oX9Ba6

I co-edited this bumper edition of Inside Indonesia no. 162, 'Indonesia and Timor-Leste Living Together' as we mark the 50th anniversary of the unilateral declaration of independence in Timor-Leste and the Indonesian invasion. insideindonesia.org/indonesia-and-…

A bumper edition focusing on Indonesia and Timor-Leste living together - in an age of rising populism and authoritarianism and of Timor-Leste's accession to ASEAN.

Scholars, creative practitioners and activists reflect on the meanings this anniversary holds for the two countries and their people and how East Timorese and Indonesians live together today, despite a history of conflict and violence.' insideindonesia.org/indonesia-and-…

This edition of Inside Indonesia appraises how countries that have been in conflict, been subjected to- and presided over an occupation and suffered huge losses can work on ethical ways of living together and building a common future.

On the 34th occasion of the Santa Cruz shootings of protesters in Dili, Timor-Leste, we remember those who lost their lives, slain in a cemetery protesting the killing of another. Re-sharing this volume of writings & artistic work remembering the massacre tlstudies.org/conference-pro…

A new chapter I just published on how oral history and testimonies have been used in Timor-Leste's independence campaign and their status as a potential resource for future generations. But what are the ethical, material and structural constraints? brill.com/display/book/9…

@fbongiornoanu Hopefully the spring rolls don't break like breaking news.

No advice on pork buns ...

@SusiTeamHunter @dfat @MrRexPatrick There's a public interest argument as well for knowing what the Australian government knows and has on this issue.

@vhearman @dfat @MrRexPatrick I have thought about it. Just dont want to be perceived as making money off peoples loss and trauma. I would have to see if the families were willing to let me do it and get the files opened and digitised

Everytime I can finally get one of the 1650+ files files from the Jakarta Embassy in 1975 opened in the National Archives. It costs me $245.40 as they are considered large files. Freedom of Information aint free. Alot of money as i am self funded.

@PaulieStewart I wrote a bit about the Timor famine and justice here: tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.10…

While many remember today the death of my brother & 4 other journalists at Balibo Timor Leste in 1975 by invading Indonesian forces, please spare a thought for the more than 250,000 Timorese who died during their subsequent 24 year bloody occupation.