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Patrick French, the prize-winning author, turned down the offer of an honour from the Queen for "his contribution to Indo-British relations" because he felt this might undermine his status as an independent writer, it was revealed today.

AT A CROSSROADS: Uighur men chat at a bazaar in Minfeng. China's Uighurs, who are of Turkic Muslim origin, face assimilation policies to force them to learn Chinese and end separatist activities. (ROBERT MARQUAND)

In the blurry quarter-light of dawn, a long line of Uighur men streams silently out of morning prayers at the Idkah Mosque - known as the "Mecca of Xinjiang." The men walk in twos and threes, wearing dark clothes and solemn expressions, and head off to work or homes.

The valley is nestled in the green Himalayan foothills, a wedge of cultivated land where the scenery is so idyllic and the wheat and highland barley grow so high that it is easy to overlook the tiny man sitting by the road with a black pig on his lap.

On the 7th October 1950, independent Tibet was invaded by the armies of the newly founded People’s Republic of China. Since then, the Chinese government has systematically colonised Tibet.

Nubra valley, Ladakh in August 2003

Singer Loten Namling from Switzerland calls his one-year tour to India, Nepal and Bhutan a ''Musical Journey'' during which he plans to perform at various Tibetan settlements and institutes; and meet fellow singers and document their musical talents.

The Tibetans on Saturday commemorated the 16th anniversary of the fist major political outbreak after the 1959 uprising against the Chinese regime.

Until two years ago, farmer Nyima, 44, and her husband, Bazhu, 45, eked out a living on their little plot outside Tsedang, earning about 300 yuan (S$63) a month.

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