Following last week’s crackdown by royalist security forces preceding planned pro-democracy protests, in which hundreds of pro-democracy politicians and activists were detained and communications were cut across the whole country, the situation in Nepal has deteriorated even further. Protests have been ongoing for the past four days, with standoffs between the demonstrators and police resulting in tear gas being shot from one side and stones being thrown from the other. With the Maoists ending their ceasefire and stepping up attacks, Nepal is perhaps at one of its most unstable points in a really long time.

KATHMANDU (Reuters) – Nepali riot police clashed with pro-democracy protesters in the capital for a fourth day on Tuesday, firing tear gas, using water cannons and employing baton charges to beat back hundreds of demonstrators.

The protests continued hours after a partial relaxation of curbs imposed to quash demonstrations against King Gyanendra who seized power early last year.

Political activists and students waved party flags and chanted slogans demanding the king surrender his grip on power and restore democracy in the impoverished Himalayan nation.

“Down with the autocratic monarchy,” they chanted. “Long live democracy.”

At least three people were injured in scuffles with police and 19, including a former minister, were detained, activists said.

Protesters threw stones at police as smoke from tear gas shells forced shopkeepers to down shutters. “We will not rest until we get democracy restored,” said 82-year-old Chhhyan Devi Parajuli.

On Tuesday, the government lifted a night curfew and allowed rallies in outlying parts of the capital. It also released key party leaders from house arrest at the weekend, and invited them for talks ???????? an offer they swiftly rejected.

The King has promised to slowly reinstate democracy while combating the insurgency, but at this point it has become evident that not only is the King inept at pushing back the Maoists without the support of the political parties that he has isolated, but that the only reason he suspended democracy in the first place was in order to install government institutions more favorable to his policies. Municipal elections are to be held within a couple of weeks, but all seven of the major political parties will be boycotting due to the election’s inherent illegitimacy. At this point, it would be best to simply reinstall the elected parliament that was disbanded last February.

By isolating the political parties, the King has actually created a more dangerous situation in fighting the Maoists. Since he no longer has their support, it has become much harder to fight them. If they’re going to be put down, the entire Nepalese society needs to be against them; however, the King has made himself a political enemy of a large segment of the population. So until that issue is resolved, the insurgency will continue.