"It will never be possible for us to forgive and forget for putting us through all the pain and suffering and separation from the community for a very long time!”, states Ko Kyaw Ko Ko, a leader of Myanmar's Student Union, during my program 'DVB Debate' last Saturday.

The second episode of the open debate show is about a extremely sensitive topic: the repression of the military regime, that came to a climax in 1988 with a bloody crackdown of peaceful protest.

In the studio are invited U Hla Swe (an ex-general, now member of parliament for the USDP, the ruling party), Ma Zin Mar Aung (founder of the Yangon School of Political Science) and Ko Kyaw Ko Ko (leader of Myanmar Students’ Union). Among the special guests, seated on the front row, are the parents of Ma Win Maw Oo, the student who was shot first during the ‘88 uprising.

It is a very emotional debate, with lots of anger and frustration. The current regime urges to move forward and not talk about the past, while most Burmese haven’t even started processing the cruelties committed over the last 25 years. It is even worse: many people are still afraid the recent political reforms will all be turned back, like the military did before. So they rather not talk about the painful past.

One of the main reasons for me to create this debate show (and why it got funded), is to contribute to a much needed reconciliation process. Although difficult, talking about the past first, is the only way to move forward.

Ex-general U Myint Swe states: “It is for sure all the things have happened in the past and they should never be forgotten. But, if we start digging up all the past and relive the past , we will delay the process for National Reconciliation. It’s time for us to be higher-minded citizens". Student leader Kyaw Ko Ko responds: “If you look at neighboring countries, digging up the past and giving rightful punishment to those who have wronged is necessary. National Conciliation will not be possible without justice!”

Ma Zin Mar Aung: “We can only consider whether to forgive or not to the people responsible only after they have admitted their crime”. The audience shivers when the ex-general states: “Parliament can not guarantee similar events will not happen again”.

No common ground is found, except that the speakers agree to disagree. The gain is that all these opinions can be expressed openly on TV at least. Now let’s see what the viewer thinks about it (dvbdebate.com).