Dear Ranjini,

I’m sorry for what is being done to you by the Australian Government, and I’m sorry I can’t explain it. I don’t know what we are so afraid of. I don’t know what we think we will lose by showing humanity. I’m sorry ASIO won’t tell you why they have told the Government to keep you and your children locked up. I’m sorry our Government gives its spy agency so much power and questions their decisions so rarely.

So how can we do this to someone, with the so-called reasons kept secret? With no trial? It is not something that should happen in a free country – and many of us know it, and we want you to be free. Many of us are thinking of you – you are not forgotten or alone. Some refugees in Australia have sent a complaint to the Geneva UN High Commission for Human Rights against the fact ASIO decisions can not be appealed.

The Australian government has been given until July to respond to a complaint. The world is watching. A Parliamentary Committee has also recommended that there should be an appeal process. The Government must listen to its own Parliament. The Government must open its eyes to what has happened and is happening in Sri Lanka, instead of copying methods from Colombo and locking people up with no chance for appeal or for justice.

We are with you and we send you our best wishes and our hope. I will see who is organising to bring things for you and your boys and find out what you need. Maybe the boys would like some books or some toys? I hope they are keeping well.

Kind regards,
Giovanni T