“Can I also be creative and ... crazy?”, the presenter asks the team. Five Burmese journalists, a trainer from South Africa and the program director (me) get together this week, to kick off the training for a debate program. The team replies: “People call you the Jon Stewart of Burma. Do what you do best”.

We have one month to learn everything about how to produce a debate show on tv, radio and internet. All kinds of people, from all regions, religions and ‘layers’ in society will be invited as speakers. Such an open debate is new for Burma, which was closed in so many ways for so many years.

We brainstorm about different possible ideas. The team comes up with surprisingly daring topics on elections, interfaith marriages and prostitution. Our ideal is that all guests will ‘agree to disagree’ and let the viewers decide who is right. At the same time, they tell me there is no ‘debating culture’ in Myanmar and entire generations have been taught to obey their leaders.

It is not going to be easy and lots of people will not appreciate the openness. But this program is not meant for sweet talk, this has to push the boundaries of the newly gained freedom of speech. Frankly, I have no clue how the speakers and the audience will react. The strategy: breaking taboos with ...humor.

Our secret weapon is already famous across Burma. The presenter is not only known for being a critical journalist for many years, but also for being very funny. He made a ‘Daily Show’-like program, with edited bits of the state TV, to make the generals say (even more) ridiculous stuff. On youtube many of his clips scored over 300.000 views. Here, suddenly people on the street want a picture and his signature.

That didn’t happen in Oslo, where he was based for the last 15 years, producing news and satire in exile. Now that studio is closed and a new one is built in Yangon. He returned to Burma for the first time this week. Still a bit in shock, but bursting with energy. Obviously it is an honor to work with him. His English speaking skills are limited though, but he does speak fluent Norwegian. So lucky I happen to speak some too!