WRTC - A Frozen Conflict?

This letter was originally addressed to WRTC Sanctioning Committee. It is expressing views and opinions of the writer only.

24.10.2022

Currently amateur radio is experiencing the biggest disruption since 1960´s. It seems that we are not capable to handle this new cold war on air. During the first cold war era in 1950s-1980s we all hams were aware of the strict geopolitical lines between East and West, and we learned to behave accordingly. National security was the first priority, and ham radio came second.

The World Radio Team Championships in July 1990 broke geo-political barriers by bringing together radio amateurs from East and West. Yes, the event was very political and addressed the sensitive issues of freedom of speech and travel, i.e. the Human Rights.

 

When Sovjet block collapsed, the cold war ended, and our hobby enjoyed warmer climate. World had faith in the brighter future. However, the world was not a peaceful place, not at all. Wars were fought, and the super powers exercised their questionable rights to use military muscles, globally. Europe has not been an exception with incidents like Yugoslav Wars. Somehow we managed to keep ham radio out of the conflicts. Numerous dx- and contest speditions made their small but visible marks to promote friendship and openness down on street level in various countries struggling with unrest. 

 

Today the global ham radio community is as disrupted as is the United Nations in front of the Ukrainian War. In the recent UN general assembly voting more than 50% of the world population choose to support Russia in the Ukraine war! The dividing line is not anymore geographical or even political, it creates its zigzag inside countries, societies and families, too. Some say, that ham radio is apolitical. Really? How does the rapid creation of new radio call areas e.g. in Crimea (RK7), Donetsk (D1) and Luhansk (D2) fit to this non-political preamble of ham radio? New ham radio stations has come on air right after Russia did invade a new city.

Today, HF contesting, the real international section of amateur radio, is a mess among different countries and contest organizations. This not a blame, but a mere observation how the issues have developed. Some parties in this information war have fallen close to a dead end with their directives and policy making.

 

When all major international sports organizations have banned Russian and Belo-Russian (Belarus) athletes from participating events (The Olympic Committee, FIFA, IIHF, IAAF, FIS, IBU etc.), the ham radio community acts differently. Some would say, that we are applying liberal and pluralistic approach. Either we do not really care, or this is a sign of our internal political maneuvers.

 

Examples:
Scandinavian Activity Contest a.k.a. SAC; the SAC Contest Committee, a sub-group of NRAU, announced to cancel both 2022 contests, CW and SSB. This was a diplomatic move with sensitiveness to the political climate especially in Northern Europe. Small, but visible fraction was the Norwegian initiative to organize a shadow SAC, "Scandinavian DX Contest". To a relief for the Nordic ham community this plan fell through. However, some domestic laundry needs to be made in Norway.

WPX; Privately held WPX made a clear ban of Russian and Belarussian contesters in WPX 2022 contests. Period.

CQ WorldWide; the US led CQ-contest Committee has an open door policy. All participants are welcome to these contests. However, Russian hams have announced the "Ham Spirit Contests" to populate radio waves at the same dates as CQWW CW andd SSB events (with different mode though). Those shadow contests are promoted to be apolitical friendship events. Let´s see who will show up on air with the Western ham spirit and who with the Eastern. The actions above are sad and macabre activities, that will drag all contesting deeper to the political mud wrestling.

IARU HF;, Contest is managed by ARRL, and is open for all as ITU rules require. Like in the UN, any possible alterations to rules would take years. 

RSGB; English gentlemen have taken a clear stand. The war in Europe means that all Russian and Belorussian hams are out of the UK, Ireland contesting. E.g. IOTA 2022; UA/EW count zero points and no multipliers.

DARC; Recently held Work All Germany WAG contest allowed all hams to participate to attend, in trenches on both sides of the battlefield in Ukraine. I.e. the Fortress Europe is not unified.

 

 

In several small ham radio associations there has been a rough seas. Pro-Ukraine and Pro-Russia opinions have been published in ugly terms. Persons have been asked to resign from a society, some have left, some have even asked to be kicked out ... and the society heads have stood at a loss. Friendships have broken, small societies have fragmented to even smaller groups. Maybe we, who have lived through the longest peaceful era in Europe, cannot handle the real politics. We have become blind and irresolute in front of the modern "glasnost" smokescreen. Maybe these are results of the successful hybrid influencing that is in progress.

 

Where are we with the WRTC2022? The WRTC contest is a contest inside IARU HF contest  and postponed to 2023 due to Covid-19. Italian hosts have a challenge to figure out, what would be the combination of participants to entertain ham spirit and friendship and still being capable to organize a meaningful contest. Qualification period 2019-2020 was conducted during the pandemic and with increasing tension between Russia and Ukraine. However, the qualifying process was fair and transparent. Big hand to Italy!
Then came the time to do some serious fundraising. Part of that was to open door for sponsored "donor teams". Now we have teams representing various nationalities, including Russia. This, together with the prolonging war in Ukraine and increasing tension between Russia and NATO & EU has created hard debate among the contesting community in Europe. US hams are sending mixed signals or no signals at all. Naturally some Russian contesters have replied with opposing messages, "loud and clear."

Some WRTC teams have put forward a demand, Russian and Belarussian participants should make public statements in writing, that they condemn Russian invasion to sovereign Ukraine. This would cause an act of self-crimination and Russian hams could potentially face long imprisonments. I.e. suggested condemnations will not materialize. 
Russia officially issued martial law in 19^th October. This does not make life easier in occupied Ukranian regions; "Donetsk P.R." (=Ukr. call area I),  "Luhansk P.R." (=Ukr. call area M) , Khershon (= Ukr. call area G) and Zaporizhzia (=Ukr. call area Q). Addition to that, in Southeast Russia movement of people is restricted in the following oblasts; KR/Kasnodar, BO/Belgorod, VR/Voronezh, KU/Kursk, RO/Rostov and of course RK/Crimea (from 21.3.2014)  and SE/Sevastopol (from 21.3.2014). The above is a writing on the wall that ham radio community should recognize.

My personal view is that the WRTC Sanctioning Committee, representing the global contesting community, should give guidance, or as minimum, an opinion to this ongoing ham radio conflict vs. WRTC2022. I feel It is time to discuss about the WRTC crisis, first within SC and right after with the Italian organizers.

 

I see the Italian WRTC2022 transforming slowly but firmly to a frozen conflict due to worsening geopolitical situation in Europe and worldwide. Already today there are so many demands and preconditions, that to organize an old school world championships is a mission impossible. 

An incident already took place, where a vocal, qualified, referee from Russia was removed from the pool of referees due to strong ham-political pressure from other contesters. More fragmentation will be seen during the winter. Some teams have announced to possibly withdraw their participation from the WRTC2022 contest, if Russians are allowed to participate. Some referees have said (discreetly) to boycott the contest for the same reason. 

 

As private persons, we all have our political stand. That includes us, amateur radio boys and girls, too.

International HF contesting has always had political flavour. State of the world politics will influence our behaviour as individuals and as part of the contesting community. Whether we like or not, international contesting is an indirect barometre of the peace on earth. However, as long as there is freedom of opinion and speech, there should be dialogue among contesters regardless of their opinion.

What would be the modus operandi to be chosen in order to secure the WRTC´s ham spirit? There is not a single right option in front of the Italian organizers, and for that matter, in front of all contest lovers. Tough call for our Italian friends, I would say. Here are three options. I am sure that you will figure out more.:

A. Open for all; Russian, Pro-Russia and "neutral" teams and referees would attend. Pro-Ukraine persons would not show up.

B. Ban Pro-Russian teams, judges and referees. This would create a Big Divide and "The West Radio Team Championships" would be held. This may set a new and harmful course to WRTC, and its status as the unofficial Radio Olympics will be lost, maybe forever.
C. Call a break for the WRTC games. It would be impossible to assess length of the QRT period. The war and process of the peace making may take a long time. Preparation work and investments already done for the WRTC event in Italy and abroad would be partially lost, and if this postponement takes years, most of it is lost. However, it is "only" work and money vs. keeping the international contest community capable to unify again after this war. 

 

I am voting for the option C. Let´s take a break, deep breath, and let the winds of war to settle. I am convinced, that we contesters are sane and sensible persons who can, hopefully one day soon, put our disagreements behind. So must the nations, too. Everybody can make his/her mark at work towards a better and more open world.

WRTC clock is ticking and final decision needs to be made. Logistics needs already today special attention due to prolonging war in Europe. In Europe life will get more difficult day by day. This may be hard to recognize across "the Water and beyond".

 

Please note, being undecisive and not making well in advance an effectively communicated decision for the 2023 games is a decision itself, too.

 

Peaceful 73 to all!

Jouko Häyrynen OH1RX

Member of the WRTC Sanctioning Committee,

qualified referee for WRTC2022, Bologna Italy

and WRTC2022 Ambassador to Finland.