The US and UK talk to the world as if they are the protectors of democracy around the world. However, they seem to be protecting democracy only if it concerns Iraq or some such oil rich nations. When it comes to nations such as Burma, US and UK might well be asking what is it all about. Take for example, the status of democracy in Burma, a country near India.

As the trial of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi continues in Burma, a BBC correspondent assesses the mood of the country’s opposition movement. BBC arranged an interview with the leader of the youth wing of Burma’s National League of Democracy (NLD) though it was very difficult to get one.

It had taken a week to meet him, complicated by the fact that phone calls are routinely tapped and e-mails closely monitored by the military authorities. But at last BBC, UK were told to go a secret location. There they waited, concerned – as an hour ticked by – that he was not coming, or perhaps had been arrested. Finally there was a knock at the door. He came and BBC shook hands and sat down together. This was the man who could tell BBC if there were going to be any organised protests against the widely expected conviction of jailed opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

What he told was horror stories of oppression in Burma and the general lack of interest of the rest of the world, including that of India, US and UK.