AJWS Calls for Justice in the Murder of Gustavo Marcelo Rivera, of Grantee ASIC in El Salvador

Gustavo Marcelo Rivera with AJWS Volunteers in El Salvador last year.

Gustavo Marcelo Rivera was a well-respected and devoted community leader, teacher, environmental rights and democracy activist in the municipality of San Isidro, Cabañas in northern El Salvador.

In order to serve the educational, health and cultural needs of his community in one of El Salvador's poorest areas, Rivera founded and led Asociación Amigos de San Isidro (ASIC), a grassroots community-development NGO and AJWS grantee. ASIC and Rivera were leaders in their community's opposition to the activities of Canadian mining company Pacific Rim, as well as members in the National Roundtable Against Mining.

As an activist for democracy and fair elections, Rivera participated in protests highlighting serious irregularities in municipal and legislative elections in January 2009. As a result of these activities, he received repeated threats to his life and safety, which he reported to the police. Missing since June 18th, his body was recently found at the bottom of a well, showing clear signs of torture.

AJWS sends its deepest condolences to Rivera's family and colleagues at ASIC. Furthermore, AJWS strongly condemns this killing of a colleague and social activist, and urges the Salvadoran authorities to fully investigate the case and bring the material and intellectual authors of the crime to justice.

For further information, please read the SHARE Foundation's profile of Rivera and watch a video tribute with footage from Rivera's funeral (in Spanish).

 

Print

 

E-mail