THE BISHOP of three Indonesians executed for alleged involvement in religious clashes has blamed the authorities for showing gross insensitivity towards the dead men and their families. Bishop Joseph Suwatan of Manado told Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), the charity that campaigns for persecuted Christians, how requests regarding Requiem masses and burials of the condemned men - Fabianus Tibo, Dominggus da Silva and Marianus Riwu - were rejected.

The Catholics, known as the Poso Three, went before the firing squad in the early hours of last Friday, having been found guilty of inciting attacks during religious rioting in Central Sulawesi in 2000. The men had insisted to their priest that they were innocent and human rights groups said they were not given a fair trial. The Pope appealed for clemency.

On the execution night, family and friends of Mr da Silva were all set for a Requiem Mass on Flores island where he wanted to be buried. News broke that the 42-year-old's body had been laid to rest in Palu, in Central Sulawesi - not far from where the executions took place - and disturbances followed.