« Back to Provision

Economic and Social Development – 2006

After years of attempted economic development, 57% of the population still lived in poverty, with 21% in extremely poor conditions. Guatemala had one of the worst rates of wealth inequality in the world.¹ In 2006, President Berger embarked on a campaign to evict squatters from farmland they seized during the previous administration. One group of peasant farmers rose up and attempted to re-capture an estate by force after the owners fired hundreds of workers. At least five people were killed in the clash.²

1. “Report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on the Situation of Human Rights in Guatemala,” United Nations Economic and Social Council (E/CN.4/2006/10/Add.1), February 1, 2006.
2. “Five Killed in Guatemala Clash over Land,” The Gazette (Montreal), July 10, 2006, A16.