From La Chispa to La Luz. Press and judicial sources on land conflicts between Arab traders and indigenous population in the northwest of Chubut (1958–1960)

Abstract

This article analyzes judicial sources related to the repercussions on the Patagonian press of the territorial  conflicts between Arab traders and indigenous population in the late decade of 1950. The case under study  is the complaint that H. El Khazen, a bolichero, initiated to the editor of the newspaper La Chispa. El Khazen  complained slander and insults, based on journalistic denunciation against him for the eviction of indigenous  settlers in Cushamen. It is argued that while the Arab bolichero won the judicial instance, he failed to avoid  the reproach regarding the evictions. We conclude that the Court ruling had no impact on the social memory  and that the antecedent of the expropriating Turks of Cushamen was consolidated as an archetype. Finally,  it is argued that the case could have contributed to liquefying the responsibility of other actors, at the same  time that it could have favor linear readings of the spoliation processes.