After three years of campaigning, Tamil refugee Ranjini was suddenly released from Villawood detention centre on November 12.
Even though she had been granted refugee status, Ranjini was whisked off the streets of Melbourne and locked up in 2012, due to a sudden ASIO decision to declare her a threat to national security. She was never allowed to find out why this had happened, see the evidence or challenge it in a court.
More than 50 others suffered the same fate. Some have been released after six years in prison. Others are still there.
Typically, none of the ASIO-negative refugees released have been compensated, as demanded by the United Nations.
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