Save Independent Radio Movement—an action team of independent radio stations around the country—has been awarded this year’s press freedom award by Reporters Without Borders (RSF)—a Paris-based global press freedom monitoring group.

The RSF awarded Save Independent Radio Movement (SIRM) under the ‘Defender of Press Freedom’ category for its role in uniting dozens of radio stations around the country to press for resumption of broadcasting of news over the F. M. radio stations.

After the royal takeover and imposition of the state of emergency on February 1, this year, FM radio stations across the country were asked to shutdown news bulletins and current-affairs based programmes. The ban continued even after the withdrawal of the state of emergency after three months. According to the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ), an estimated up to 1,000 radio journalists lost their jobs due to fresh restrictions on Nepali media. This led radio journalists to constitute the Movement to launch both street and legal protests against the government’s decision, according to officials with the SIRM.

Journalists in a rally and puja at Pashupatinath temple in protest …

Journalists in a rally and puja at Pashupatinath temple in protest …
“We were disheartened to see that millions of beneficiaries of our programmes did not come forward to defend their right to information. This led us to form this movement and launch a nationwide campaign on our own strength,” Ghamraj Luitel, spokesman of the SIRM, told Nepalnews on Friday.

The Movement had launched unique type of protest programmes against the government’s decision including prayers at the Pashupatinath temple, offering coconut to monkey at Buddha stupa at Swoyambhu and sending dilapidated radio to the Ministry of Information and Communications by post, among others.

The Movement also filed cases against the government’s order and the new media ordinance at the Supreme Court.

“We are happy to note that our Movement was able to draw the attention of people within the country and abroad. The recognition to SIRM is in fact recognition to all the Nepalis who believe in free press and free flow of information,” said Luitel. “It is also the recognition of all the radio journalists who are fighting to protect independent radios,” he added.

Most of the over 50 F. M. radio stations across the country have started airing news bulletins after a recent Supreme Court order.