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.

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.

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.

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.

"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.

"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.