Hospital Rosales Opens, Mass Trials Continue in El Zonte

The new Hospital Rosales is officially open, but its grand opening video lacked the human element, mirroring the government's broader approach to social infrastructure.

New Hospital Rosales

On June 1, President Nayib Bukele unveiled the new Hospital Rosales in San Salvador, a central hub in the country's public health system. The video tour was filled with state-of-the-art technology, but strangely devoid of doctors, nurses, and patients. The government is actively recruiting for various roles, suggesting that the hospital is still in the process of staffing up. The EDH website reported photos of people queuing for services the day after the speech, hinting at the challenges in fully operationalizing the facility.

Bukele's focus on technology and infrastructure without the accompanying human elements is a recurring theme. His approach to social infrastructure often emphasizes flashy projects over the softer, more complex aspects of service delivery, such as training and staffing. This gap is particularly evident in the hospital's grand opening, which seems to lack the actual service delivery that it promises.

Mass Trials Against Gang Leaders

The government is also pushing forward with mass trials against gang leaders. The closure of the ongoing MS-13 trials and the initiation of new trials for Barrio 18 factions highlight the government's commitment to addressing gang violence. However, these trials are often criticized for their scale and the harsh sentences handed down to gang members, which can be seen as a form of punishment without rehabilitation.

The scale and severity of these trials raise questions about the justice system's ability to handle such a large number of cases and the potential for miscarriages of justice. The long sentences handed down to gang leaders and their lieutenants can be seen as a political move to gain support among those tired of gang violence, but they do little to address the root causes of gang activity.