Jakarta – Indonesia on Tuesday sent a second batch of 821 police reinforcements to East Timor ahead of the August 8 UN-monitored ballot to determine the future of the former Portuguese colony.

The contingent, mostly from the elite police mobile brigade also included 10 police detectives and 10 liaison officers. They left the Jakarta navy base aboard the Teluk Amboina 503 navy ship bound for East Timor, television showed.

The contingent, the second sent to East Timor after 452 police personnel who arrived in the main town Dili in the first week of June, will reinforce some 5,000 police personnel there.

"Therefore for the time being, our forces there will be adequate and we will evaluate later whether we will need more additions as it will depend on the situation there," said Major General S. Bimantoro, the operational assistant to the national police chief.

The Indonesian police reinforcement contingents, code-named Lorosae, will be tasked with maintaining security in East Timor before the August polls, Bimantoro said. They will also safeguard the balloting and the UN personnel deployed there for the ballot, Bimantoro said.

Under a May 5 agreement signed by Portugal and Indonesia at the United Nations, Indonesian police will be responsible for the ballot security.

With the assistance of 270 unarmed UN civilian police, they will be responsible for disarming rival supporters and opponents of independence for East Timor, which was invaded by Indonesia in 1975.

The contingent sailed off as a US diplomat here voiced sharp criticism over security in the territory. "Pro-integration militias, backed by elements of the Indonesia military have attempted to bias the vote through violence and attempted initimidation of pro-independence East Timorese," a US diplomat told AFP.

The Indonesian government which held the sole responsibility for security in East Timor had not reined in or disarmed the militias. "Indeed, there is mounting evidence of Indonesian military support for militia activities," the diplomat added.

"It is crucial for the Indonesian governement to act swiftly to bring the militias under control and address the security situation in East Timor."

Violence, particularly by Indonesian army-backed militia, has spiralled since the government in January offered the territory independence if the population reject an offer of autonomy.

The first batch of unarmed UN civilian police force, 38 men from five countries, is expected to arrive in Dili on Saturday.