March 22, 2012: Six representatives from 24 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) failed in their bid to handover a memorandum to visiting UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at Wisma Putra today. <br /> <br />Instead they were offered by Wisma Putra officials to deliver the memo to a Malaysia-based UN official who would accept on behalf of the Sec-Gen. The group felt this was unacceptable as they could give the memo to the UN office here 'any day' they said. <br /> <br />Spokesperson for the group, E Nalini said that they feel dejected that the UN Sec- Gen was not given the opportunity to accept the memo. They had hoped that human rights is an issue that the Sec-Gen could bring up with Premier Najib when they meet later today. <br /> <br />Suaram director Cynthia Gabriel said that in any visit by the UN Secretary-General or any high-level UN official it becomes basic courtesy and diplomacy to get all sides of the story and not allow a programme which is one hundred percent . run and controlled by the foreign ministry. <br /> <br />"We are indeed disappointed with Secretary Ban for not even suggesting to the organisers that the voices of NGOs and civil society are actually heard," she said. <br /> <br />"If high level and top UN officials, especially the UN Secretary-General, he does not listen to the voices of the people then the very charter that the United Nations is based on will come into question," Gabriel added.
