Complex legal battles stemming from a land dispute between the Indigenous Community of Mezcala de la Asuncion on the shores of Lake Chapala and a Guadalajara businessman are heating up again after years of foundering in the Mexican court system.
The conflict dates back to 1999 when the Comunidad Indigena filed suit with the district Agrarian Tribunal for restitution of ten hectares of communal land located in the mountain range overlooking Mezcala that was taken in possession by wealthy entrepreneur Guillermo Moreno Ibarra and his local cohort Crescenciano Santana. Last September, the tribunal issued a ruling in favor of the comuneros, but the case has dragged out under appeal. A final decision on the suit is expected in the near future.
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