Since the emergency can only constitutionally last for three months though, it’s kind of by default.

KATHMANDU, April 30 (Reuters) – Nepal’s king ended a state of emergency two days early, the Palace said on Saturday, but the sudden midnight proclamation does not reduce extraordinary powers he seized in February’s royal coup.

Politicians said it was a positive move but advised caution and urged the king to hold talks with political parties.

Constitutionally, the three-month state of emergency granting the military extra powers of search, arrest and curfew had to end or be formally extended by midnight on Sunday.

King Gyanendra’s announcement made no mention of him giving up most of the extra powers assumed when he sacked the government, suspended democracy and took control himself on Feb. 1 in a bid to end a long-running Maoist rebellion.

The king suspended civil liberties, arrested the ousted prime minister and gave sweeping powers to soldiers to fight the Maoist rebels, drawing international condemnation and failing to check the rebellion.

The midnight announcement came hours after Gyanendra returned from his first foreign tour since Feb. 1, aimed at shoring up international support, a visit during which he convinced India to resume military aid.

He had reassured India and the United States, another major supporter, that he would restore democracy as soon as possible.

United We Blog! Nepalese commenters are skeptical, as I am as well. In the three months since he dissolved the government in the name of putting down the Maoist insurgency, he has not gotten any closer in actually doing so. While no progress has been made in this front, he has certainly made personal progress in gaining absolute power over the civil liberties of individuals. What happens within Nepal now will be the result of internal and international pressure on the king to give way to democracy.

Of particular note, I want to bring up India’s influence over its smaller neighbor. Meeting just recently, India promised military aid to combat the insurgency while pressing the king to revert back to democracy. I don’t talk about India much, but when I do, it usually pertains to the ability of regional powers to influence democracy on smaller ones. This is what I wrote back in February, ten days after the state of emergency was issued:

However, I think this signifies, in conjunction with the global freedom persuit, a change in fundamental U.S. policy from unilateralism to support for regional powers to quell totalitarianism. As they correctly note, India is beginning to take action on the King????????s government. This is because India is a regional power on the verge of becoming a world power. With India on the scene, the United States doesn????????t have to handle the conflict actively. The same can be seen with the current handling of Iran. The United States is working with the governments of the world on broad issues that are more easily agreeable and ready to be worked on, instead of focusing on minute details and disagreements.

As large, democratic nations grow, so too will their ability to influence neighboring countries toward democracy. India, at this point, is a good example.

In the long run, India will do a lot of good in pressuring the king into reform. I have a feeling they will be handling the situation much more actively now, given that the king just went back on his word.

New Delhi, April 28: Regretting the fresh crackdown on politicians in Nepal, India on Thursday said this ran contrary to assurances given by King Gyanendra that he would soon ‘unwind emergency’ measures and release political detenues.

“It is distressing and deplorable that these actions have come after assurances given by the King in his meetings with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and me that he would take steps to unwind emergency, release political prisoners and take measures to return to democratic process in the Himalayan Kingdom,” External Affairs Minister K. Natwar Singh told the Rajya Sabha.

Informing the House that relations with Nepal were constantly under review, Singh said the Nepalese monarch had also given assurance to remove curbs on the press and allow Indian television channels to be accessed in the country.

This is why we must constantly remain skeptical of Nepal’s monarch despite whatever supposed changes he makes. Once nobody is watching, even for a second, he’ll take advantage of it. More of this twisting and turning is going to continue to happen in the future, and the recently announced return of municipal elections soon are even looking to be shady. The Nepalese are not going to see their freedom in the short term, but in the long term, I believe they have a friend in India who will aid them there.