Neuquén judge recognizes property rights but denies Mapuche community eviction

A court in Villa La Angostura, Neuquén, has issued a ruling regarding a long-standing territorial dispute. Judge Francisco Astoul Bonorino recognized the registered property rights of the heirs of Natalio Burd but denied the request to evict the Paichil Antriao Mapuche community currently occupying the land.

The community has maintained effective possession of the area for decades, with approximately 50 to 60 families residing there. In his decision, the judge noted that while the family's legal ownership was proven through documentation, this was insufficient to order restitution under current circumstances. The ruling cited constitutional norms, International Labour Organization Convention 169, and precedents from the Supreme Court and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights regarding the protection of indigenous peoples' rights.