Argentina
Neuquén recognized the Lof Melo while the judicial land dispute in El Pedregoso continues
The provincial government granted legal status to the Mapuche community amid litigation over the property where it lives. According to Infobae América, the resolution set the disputed land as the community’s legal address, despite the occupation being deemed illegal by the courts.
The government of Neuquén granted legal status to the Mapuche community Lof Melo amid the judicial dispute over the land it occupies in the El Pedregoso area, about 35 kilometers from Villa La Angostura, on the shore of Lake Nahuel Huapi.
According to Infobae América, the decision was signed by Governor Rolando Figueroa and the Minister of Government, Women and Human Rights, Jorge Tobares. In the resolution, the provincial Executive established the same property that is under judicial dispute and whose occupation was deemed illegal by different courts as the community’s legal address.
According to that outlet, the decree states that the recognition complies with the National Constitution, Convention 169 of the International Labour Organization and other regulations, in addition to endorsing the community statute and asserting that there were no obstacles to granting legal status.
The measure raised questions about the impact it could have if the eviction is carried out. Infobae América noted that the Lof Melo shares territory with the lof Kinxikew, made up of the Quintriqueo family, and that the judge in Villa La Angostura Francisco Astoul Bonorino issued an order last week to carry out the eviction in relation to that community.
The recognition, however, does not in itself validate the occupation of the territory or suspend a court order. It does allow the community to act as a collective subject before the courts and the public administration, with the ability to intervene in cases, request precautionary measures and raise issues related to territorial survey and prior consultation.
Infobae América also reported that the Confederación Mapuche de Neuquén questioned the scope of the measure and raised doubts about whether it is an effective recognition or a distraction tactic. On social media, the organization said the decision came late and warned of two possible scenarios: that the Province would still facilitate the eviction with the Neuquén police, or that it would intervene before the courts as guarantor of the community’s territorial rights.
As a precedent, that outlet recalled that in July 2026 Figueroa and Tobares rejected the legal status of the Raliñanco Cárdenas and Kelv Kura communities. According to government sources cited by Infobae América, the refusal was based on the fact that the requirements set out in Decree No. 2462/13 had not been proven.
Sources
About this note. Written by El Notero with the assistance of artificial intelligence, based on what was published by the cited outlet. El Notero did not do its own reporting on this fact.
