The picture is by no means entirely bleak. Menchu has so far beaten the odds in bringing a court case against Montt and others for a massacre of Indians. In addition, numerous nongovernmental organizations are contributing money to preserve Mayan culture and to awaken political consciousness in their communities. However, peace by fiat alone will not rectify the Mayans’ situation. The past five years have taught Guatemala that a formal peace agreement is no guarantee of social justice.