27 June 2001 / 12:51 AM

DRENCHED Falun Gong members staged two protests yesterday at the height of an amber rainstorm warning.

As the rain poured down, they accused President Jiang Zemin of covering up ``rampant human rights abuse''.

The protests were held to mark United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.

About 100 adherents of the qigong [group] performed their exercises outside the Central Government Liaison Office in Western District at 2.15pm, while 130 massed in Chater Garden at 3.30pm.

``In the face of international criticism Jiang Zemin's regime has not shown remorse or concern. Instead, it has made a policy of denial and doubled its efforts to cover up its rampant human rights abuses against Falun Gong,'' said Hong Kong Association of Falun Dafa spokesman Kan Hung-cheung. ``Jiang Zemin's campaign against the Falun Gong has been from day one in direct violation of China's own constitution and the international human rights treaties China has signed.''

He said that since July 1999, more than 200 mainland practitioners had died under torture while another 50,000 followers had been arrested. He said a new legal document had opened the way for harsher punishment, including the death penalty, against [group] members.

``Explanations of Some Questions About the Law'', issued on June 11, said mainland courts could prosecute Falun Gong practitioners for murder or intentional wounding if they organised, encouraged or helped others to commit suicide or injure themselves.

Protesters at the Liaison Office tried to present a petition addressed to Premier Zhu Rongji, but it was rejected.

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