You may remember Armando Choco – he’s the manager of the Toledo Cacao Growers Association. He’s appeared on this newscast a few times
promoting Cacao and also stridently speaking out against communal land rights – those same rights passionately advocated by the Mayan Leaders Alliance. But what you didn’t know about Armando Choco is that he recently finished construction on his home in his village of San Pedro Colombia. Or we should say it was his home – because last night it was burnt down and police suspect arson.
Choco told us that he was at home around 8:30 and went to the north side of the residence to pick up his son when he heard a crackling sound. He looked through the window and saw the edge of his thatch roof on fire. Choco told us he tried to put it out and villagers also came to help – but it spread quickly and engulfed the entire roof, eventually destroying almost everything inside the wooden house.
Choco says he had been building the house for 3 years and has been living there with his common law wife and child since September of 2009. Based on where the fire started – on the overhang of the roof - he believes it is arson but would not speculate on a motive. He says he received threats from a villager last week. He estimates the total value of the losses at $95,000.
