31 Indigenous territorial issues are processed before the INDI and the IBR, which always act within the administrative sphere.47 50.24. On October 5, 1993 Tomás Galeano, as Community leader, submitted a note to the IBR, in which he stated the wish of the Yakye Axa Indigenous Community to return to their traditional territory, located “in the area of the Loma Verde, Ledesma and Maroma estates” in the Pozo Colorado district, Presidente Hayes Department, and requested “legalization” of at least 15,000 hectares for the Community within said estates. Together with said note, he submitted a census of the Community, which established that at the time it had 221 members, grouped into 57 families.48 50.25. On March 3, 1994 the President of the IBR asked the INDI for its “cooperation to provide to th[at] Institute the background regarding the legal status, or if not the acknowledgment of the leaders, anthropological report, and any other information on the Yakye Axa Indigenous Community”.49 Due to lack of response by the INDI, the IBR reiterated this request on June 23,199550 and on April 30, 1996.51 50.26. On December 22, 1993 the leaders of the Community, through their lawyers, asked the IBR for a visual inspection of the Loma Verde and Maroma estates, which would be part of the territory claimed.52 This request was repeated several times before the IBR.53 50.27. On April 7, 1994 the División de Campos Comunales y Asuntos Colectivos of the IBR suggested to the President of said institution that he order the visual inspection of the area requested by the Yakye Axa Community.54 47 See law No. 904/81 establishing the Statute of the Indigenous Communities on December 18, 1981, and statement by Enrique Castillo rendered before a notary public on February 11, 2005 (file on the merits, reparations, and costs, Volume III, volumes 647 to 664). 48 See request submitted by Tomás Galeano before the Instituto de Bienestar Rural on October 5, 1993 (file with appendixes to the application, appendix 4, volumes 488 to 496). 49 See note No. 16 by the President of the Instituto de Bienestar Rural to the President of the Instituto Paraguayo del Indígena on March 3 (file with appendixes to the application, appendix 4, volume 507). 50 See note No. 281 by the Secretary General of the Instituto de Bienestar Rural to the President of the Instituto Paraguayo del Indígena on June 23, 1995 (file with appendixes to the application, appendix 4, volume 527). 51 See note No. 141 by the Secretary General of the Instituto de Bienestar Rural to the President of the Instituto Paraguayo del Indígena on April 30, 1996 (file with appendixes to the application, appendix 4, volume 548). 52 See request submitted by the Yakye Axa Community before the President of the Instituto de Bienestar Rural on December 22, 1993 (file with appendixes of the application, appendix 4, volume 500). 53 See request submitted by the Yakye Axa Community before the President of the Instituto de Bienestar Rural on March 17, 1994 (file with appendixes to the application, appendix 4, volume 508); request submitted by the Yakye Axa Community before the President of the Instituto de Bienestar Rural on April 4, 1995 (file with appendixes to the application, appendix 4, volume 524); request submitted by the Yakye Axa Community before the President of the Instituto de Bienestar Rural on October 20, 1995 (file with appendixes to the application, appendix 4, volume 535), and request submitted by the Yakye Axa Community before the President of the Instituto de Bienestar Rural on November 7, 1995 (file with appendixes to the application, appendix 4, volume 538). 54 See report No. 221 of the División de Campos Comunales y Asuntos Colectivos of the Instituto de Bienestar Rural on April 7, 1994 (file with appendixes to the application, appendix 4, volume 510).