Rest in peace ... Crosses for condemned drug convicts Andrew Chan (L) and Myuran Sukumaran (C), and Nigerian Okwudili Oyatanze. Source: AFP

The images, taken during daylight hours on Tuesday, show preparations for that night’s execution taking place.

Killing field ... the execution site Limus Buntu, where Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were later executed. Picture: Detik.com Source: Supplied

The crosses that the men were tied to with cables can be seen four metres apart from one another on a slight rise, slightly beyond a tarpaulin structure.

Mary Jane Veloso’s execution cross was there, in the middle of the wooden crosses lined up.

It is not know whether the firing squads stood underneath the structure during the execution.

Local Catholic priest Charlie Burrows has described how the men were strapped with their arms outstretched on what were effectively crucifixes.

“They were singing on the crosses and we were in a tent not too far away from the execution place trying to support them,” Father Burrows told News Corp. “The Australians seemed to be more or less leading the singing.”

He said they sang Amazing Grace and other hymns.

The Australians met most of their fellow victims for the first time just before the executions. Father Burrows said all the men hugged and said goodbye to each other.

Execution site ... the crosses that the death row prisoners were strapped to can be clearly seen in the images. Picture: Detik.com Source: Supplied

AFP directive debated in blame game

As the pictures of the killing fields emerge, yesterday’s simmering row about the role of the AFP in the Bali Nine affair has erupted into a full blown controversy.

The federal government insists police are still taking the death penalty into account before they tip off foreign agencies about suspected Australian drug smugglers.

Despite removing reference to the death penalty in his 2014 ministerial directive for the Australian Federal Police, Justice Minister Michael Keenan says strict guidelines that govern the agency’s decisions on such matters remain in place.

The guidelines state the AFP must consider whether sharing information could put an Australian at risk of facing execution. Mr Keenan said the coalition is using the same guidelines introduced by the Rudd Labor government in 2009 following a review.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said the ministerial directives did not dictate the operations of the AFP.

She accused Labor of playing cheap politics over the executions of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, a day after the drug smugglers were put to death in Indonesia.

“Shame on them,” Ms Bishop told reporters in Sydney.

Labor leader Bill Shorten said the government must explain why the death penalty was removed from the ministerial directive and not absolve itself of responsibility.

Australians expected reassurance there was sufficient oversight of the AFP, he said.

“What we do want to make sure is that what happened in the early hours of yesterday morning can’t happen again,” he said.

Myuran’s last birthday

The release of the killing fields photos came just after photos emerged of Myuran Sukumaran celebrating his 34th birthday on April 17.

They are the last known photos of the Bali Nine ringleader.

The photographs were taken on Indonesia’s execution island and feature a smiling Sukumaran receiving cakes and a banner from fellow prisoners Andrew Chan and Okwuduli Oyatanze.

Twelve days later, the Bali Nine duo and six others would be killed by Indonesia’s firing squad.

Smiling ... Sukumaran (left) receives gifts to mark his 34th birthday on April 17. Picture: Indonesia's TV one Source: Supplied

Most of Sukumaran’s family was absent from the makeshift party on Nusakambangan Island. They only raced to Indonesia from Australia last weekend after authorities gave formal notice that the executions were imminent.

His brother, Chinthu, had delivered the black forest cakes into Besi Prison two days earlier.

A photographer was provided by the Attorney-General’s office to document the pair’s final weeks in isolation, capturing precious memories of milestones such as Sukumaran’s birthday party and Chan’s wedding.

Final birthday ... Sukumaran’s 34th birthday would be his last. Picture: Indonesia's TV one Source: Supplied

The pictures were broadcast to the public on Indonesian television on the eve of yesterday’s executions.

The Chan and Sukumaran families were banned from taking their own photographs of the men on Nusakambangan and have asked for copies of the state-sanctioned pictures.

Heartbreaking ... A much younger Myuran Sukumaran celebrates his birthday with loved ones. Picture supplied by Raji Sukumaran. Source: News Limited

How the bodies will travel home

Final preparations are being made in Jakarta to transport the Chan’s and Sukumaran’s bodies home.

Photos show funeral parlour workers measuring and building huge wooden boxes that will contain the bodies when they are repatriated tonight.

Final preparations ... The men’s bodies are in Jakarta awaiting repatriation after 10 years off Australian shores. Source: Supplied

The bodies of Chan and Sukumaran have now reached Jakarta. Their families trailed behind in a bus. The bodies will remain in a Jakarta funeral home before being flown back to Sydney.

Journey home ... A funeral parlour in Jakarta, Indonesia, sizes up the boxes that will be used to transport Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan's bodies home. Picture: Supplied. Source: Supplied

Tied to crosses for ‘perfect’ executions

Earlier, Indonesia declared the executions of Chan, Sukumaran and six others to be “perfect” and a “success”, as revulsion for the brutal midnight slaughter crossed the globe.

Indonesian Attorney-General HM Prasetyo appeared satisfied with the result.

Chilling ... Father Charlie Burrows says Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were executed with their arms outstretched on what were effectively crucifixes. Picture: Adam Taylor Source: News Corp Australia

“The executions have been successfully implemented, perfectly,” said Mr Prasetyo, who in a previous role had personal oversight of his country’s execution program.

“All worked, no misses,” he said of the executions of Mr Chan, Mr Sukumaran, four Nigerians, a Brazilian and an Indonesian man.

Chan and Sukumaran courageously declined the offer of hoods and watched the firing squads take aim and fire. Medical teams declared all the men dead three minutes after they were shot.

Father Burrows, who has lived in Cilacap near the prison island of Nusakambangan for 40 years, spent hours with Brazilian schizophrenic Rodrigo Gularte up until he was shot with the others.

Before being taken to the execution ground, the men each spent 90 minutes alone with their chosen religious adviser in their isolation cells at Besi Prison on Nusakambangan.

COMING HOME: Families begin long journey home

The first to be collected from the cell block was Myuran Sukumaran. Andrew Chan followed him, then the other six.

Father Burrows said that as the men farewelled the guards, some of them were in tears themselves. They had grown to love the two Australians in the short time they had been locked up in Besi Prison.

Show of force ... Indonesia's Attorney-General says his nation’s very survival is under threat from the scourge of drugs. Picture: Lukman S. Bintoro. Source: Supplied

The men’s hands were cuffed behind their backs and they were shackled. Each man was then half-lifted and helped into the back seat of an SUV type van, sitting in the middle of the back seat with a Brimob police officer on each sides.

The six cars drove in a convoy to the shooting field, while the six religious advisers followed behind in another vehicle.

Father Burrows said that when the advisers arrived at the execution site the men were already wearing white tunics, a black marker over their hearts to guide the marksmen. They had been strapped to wooden poles.

Father Burrows said their arms were outstretched and secured to the poles with what appeared to be white cable ties. Their legs were tied at the bottom.

The religious advisers were then allowed to spend three minutes with the men. Charlie Burrows said each adviser stood in front of the person they were assisting, speaking and praying.

After three minutes the advisers were lead to a tent about 30 metres away.

Tied to the crosses, led by Chan and Sukumaran, they started singing hymns. They were joined by their spiritual advisers.

“We could hear them singing and they could hear us singing,” Father Burrows said.