Our government has now kept Rajan locked up in immigration detention for more than 10 years. Last year he was diagnosed with leukaemia. Please - let Rajan live in our community with the support of the many friends who care for him.

My name is Matt, and I am part of a community of volunteers who visit people held in the immigration detention centre in Melbourne’s north. That’s how I got to know Sivaguru, a 45 year old Tamil man. All of his friends call him “Rajan”.

When I started this petition last year Rajan had been locked up for 9 years, now it is more than 10 — but there is hope. Recently another Tamil refugee in a similar situation to Rajan was released by the Minister. Other Tamils released after many years in detention have gone on to make wonderful contributions to society. And this week a young friend of Rajan’s has travelled to Geneva to call for his freedom at the UN Human Rights Council.

You can follow updates from Renuga’s visit on her page: https://www.facebook.com/Renuga2020/

Renuga Inpakumar is a Year 12 student at Our Lady of Mercy College Parramatta in Sydney. She travelled to Geneva, Switzerland last week to address the 43rd session of the UN Human Rights Council about Rajan and one other Tamil man held in detention in Melbourne. 

Renuga first met Rajan when he was held at Sydney’s Villawood detention centre. I know that Rajan has been buoyed by Renuga’s efforts to fight for his freedom. Please support Renuga’s efforts on her webpage here: https://www.facebook.com/Renuga2020/

Rajan sought safety in Australia ten years ago, after fleeing the Sri Lanka state that denies Tamils their fundamental right to self-determination and still subjects them to torture. Soon after arriving, our government recognised Rajan was a genuine refugee who feared for his safety.

But Rajan’s hopes were crushed by a secret security assessment, trapping him in detention without hope of release. It took six years for Australia’s security agency to acknowledge that Rajan was not a threat to anyone. But the Minister won’t let him out while he challenges the government’s decision not to grant him a refugee visa the second time around.

Since I started this petition last year the situation for Tamils under the Sri Lankan state has become more dire. The feared Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa that Rajan once fled from is now the President of Sri Lanka. 

Mr Morrison, Mr Dutton and Mr Tudge. I’m begging you to allow Rajan to live in our community, where his many friends can support him during this difficult time.
Please hear Renuga's call to set Rajan free.

Summary in Tamil:

ராஜன் - ஒரு நல்ல நண்பர். 10 வருடங்களாகின்ற தடுப்புமுகாம் வாழ்க்கை துயரமானது. இப்போது அவருக்கு அவசர மருத்துவ உதவி தேவை. அவருக்கு நீதி வேண்டும். அவருக்கு விடுதலை வேண்டும்