[KYHAM] Communications with Myanmar (Burma)

[Patrick Spencer]

Allow me to preface this email with the statement that I am not an expert of any color in this subject.  

However, I have seen a lot of emails on a lot of ham reflectors about the desire to contact Myanmar for health/welfare inquiries.  I thought I would do a little research, because there are probably many hams out there with as much knowledge as I had. :)

We do not have a Third Party Traffic agreement according to the list at:
http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/io/3rdparty.html

Therefore, unless the State Department works out a temporary agreement with the government of that nation, those forms of transmissions are not allowed.  Tragic, yes.  However, seeing the news stories about the political/diplomatic issues with that nation I say this would not be the time to test international law.  

I did learn a lot by reading a page on emergency communications on the IARU web site about international emergency communcication.  It is located at http://www.iaru.org/emergency/

Just the facts as I have learned them.  I have asked ARRL HQ to issue guidance and updates to the amateur radio community. 

Take care, 73, Pat, KD4PWL