Trade unionists on the outskirts of the Institute of Forensic Medicine in San Salvador. Photo: Courtesy
politics
Susana Peñate / Rosa Fonts
Wednesday, August 25, 2021 • 7:09 am
Members of different unions of judicial workers gave their position against the Institute of Forensic Medicine (IML) being separated from the Supreme Court of Justice (SCJ), as has been known within the proposals of reform of the Constitution of the Republic.
This morning they held rallies in front of the ILM facilities in San Salvador and San Miguel
It is intended to remove the Institute so that there is interference from the various institutions of the State. If right now the Attorney General’s Office is interfering and prosecuting doctors when they do not change the expertise, what can happen if the Institute goes outside the sphere of the Judiciary where there is greater control? “. Reina Sigarán, secretary of the Union of Salvadoran Judicial Employees (Sinejus).He added that they do not give validity to the justification of the ad hoc team working on the reforms to the Constitution of the Republic in which there would be no interference and an institute of forensic sciences would be formed attached to the Prosecutor’s Office.
IML employees know all too well what this task is like and are willing to give up until the last battle for the Institute to hold. Better to equip it with human resources, with technical resources “. affirm.in the east
While in San Miguel representatives of the Union of Salvadoran Democratic Judicial Workers (SITRAJUD), consider that the need for the Executive to convert Forensic Medicine to autonomous it would be to raise money for the coffers of the state.
We have seen that the Prosecutor’s Office lends itself to many things and it is not right, so the Constitution is very clear that the Institute of Forensic Medicine must be within the Judicial Body of the Supreme Court of Justice, because it is impartial, it is where all the evidence is taken so that the judge can take justice clinging to the evidence. ” Balmore Leiva Orellana, general secretary of the union.There is concern about the continuity of employees, which they would be 1,800 at the IML.
Trade unionists in Sant Miquel. Photo: Rosa Fuentes.
If they pass Legal Medicine to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, several colleagues will be dismissed from their jobs and the people will have to pay for the services of this institution, which is why we are in opposition to this measure. ” Herminio Garay, representative of SITRAJUD.According to protesters, people should pay for autopsies, rape tests, DNA tests, and any other type of evidence that may be required in any court. In addition, they doubt the mismanagement of evidence by the prosecution with which they can release or detain a person.
The physical tests are not done by any doctor, he has to be a forensic scientist, a pathologist with knowledge of the cause, he is not just anyone. This is alarming in the hands of one of the few independent institutions in the country. ” emphasize Garay.They request to meet with the Presidency of the Republic or some representative. If they do not get a response, they do not rule out taking action such as suspending work and strikes.
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