José Emeterio Rivas

José Emeterio Rivas (c. 1957 or '58 – April 6, 2003) was a Colombian radio journalist and host of the talk show "Las Fuerzas Vivas" (Translated: "Live Forces") for Radio Calor Estéreo in Barrancabermeja, Magdalena Medio Antioquia, Colombia. Rivas was murdered along with another man by a paramilitary group. Unlike most murderers of journalists in Columbia, Rivas' murderer was brought to justice.

At one point, Rivas ran for senate where he acquired more than 8000 votes.

Career Rivas was a political radio journalist for the Radio Calor Estéreo. He hosted a morning public affairs show called "Fuerzas Vivas" (Translated: "Live Forces") with opinions about politics that critics found to be insulting to some Barrancabermeja politicians. It was said that Rivas called Ardila a "plunderer" in the television appearance. When Riva's body was found, there were four bullet holes in his abdomen, indicating that he probably died almost instantly.

The mayor and his three collaborators, Fabio Pajón Lizcano, Abelardo Rueda Tobón, and Juan Pablo Ariza, who were a few of his high-up officials, had hired militia leaders to kill Rivas with the reward for $68,000. A militia leader by the name of Bedoya later admitted his participation as a material author in Riva's death.

Context Armed paramilitary groups threaten journalists in Colombia and were hired for Riva's murder by the town mayor at the time.

The Committee to Protect Journalists released a statement after the case was resolved in the courts: "We welcome the sentencing of these three former officials for plotting the murder of José Emeterio Rivas. This is the first time in recent Colombian history that the masterminds of a journalist's murder were effectively prosecuted and punished. We commend the attorney general's office and its human rights unit for taking this crucial step forward in the campaign to end impunity in the murders of journalists around the world."