Crisis talks over torture accused soldier Colonel Penioni (Ben) Naliva

Canberra is in crisis talks with the Fijian government over the future of an alleged human rights abuser appointed as deputy commander of the Australian Army’s 7th Brigade.

Colonel Penioni (Ben) Naliva welcomed as deputy commander to the Australian Army's 7th Brigade. Picture: Defence

The Albanese government is in crisis talks with the Fijian government on the future of a senior ­Fijian military officer allegedly responsible for human rights abuses and torture who has been appointed as deputy commander of the Australian Army’s 7th Brigade.

The high level discussions come as Fijian human rights campaigners and political leaders call for an investigation into how Col­onel Penioni (Ben) Naliva, a one-time right-hand man to former Fiji coup leader and prime minister Frank Bainimarama, was awarded the prestigious position.

On Monday, The Australian revealed that Colonel Naliva was alleged to have been involved in several violent beatings of detainees during the Bainimarama ­regime, with one victim claiming the soldier tried to force an M16 rifle barrel into his anus during an interrogation.

Defence now faces serious questions about its vetting procedures for foreign embedded personnel within the Australian Defence Force.

Colonel Naliva was named by the UN Special Rapporteur in a report to the Human Rights Council as being involved in a savage beating of Suva businessman Benjamin Padarath that left him unable to walk.

He was also named in a book by deposed Fiji prime minister Laisenia Qarase as involved in the ­torture of a former Fijian cabinet minister, Samisoni Speight ­Tikoiniasau.

Defence has declined to say what vetting, if any, it undertook for the appointment of Colonel Naliva, but has acknowledged that it was “aware of reporting” ­regarding the Fijian soldier.

It is understood the department relied chiefly on assurances from the Fiji government that Col­onel Naliva had passed all the required Fiji police and national security clearances prior to being appointed.

A Defence spokesperson told The Australian on Tuesday that “Australia is currently engaged with the Fijian government on this matter” but it would be “inappropriate to comment further at this point.”

Fiji Trades Union Congress chief Felix Anthony, who was badly beaten by soldiers in 2010, said he was shocked that the Australian government did not appear to have done background checks on Colonel Naliva.

“It’s unbelievable. He is not the kind of man you should have training your young recruits, definitely not – he should be nowhere near them.”

Former cabinet minister Ted Young, who served in the government of Mr Qarase and was beaten by soldiers in 2007, said he was “gobsmacked” at the appointment of a man he described as a member of Mr Bainimarama’s “goon squad”.

“It is shameful that at the time the Australian government is trying to deal with alleged human rights abuses by SAS soldiers in Afghanistan, it appoints a known human rights abuser to be one of your senior commanding officers in Australia; it is absolutely shocking and shameful,” said Mr Young.

Veteran human rights activist Shamima Ali, currently head of the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre, called for the ADF to investigate the allegations.

“These allegations are sufficiently grave to warrant an independent investigation by the Australian Defence Force, Fiji Police and the Fiji Human Rights and Anti-discrimination Commission,” she told The Australian.

The adherence of Fiji’s security forces to the principles of human rights had been at times “both questionable and unacceptable”, Ms Ali said.

“Accountability must apply equally to all persons in the ­security forces, regardless of the rank or position.”

Colonel Naliva has not been charged over any of the alle­gations and The Australian is not suggesting they are true, only that they have been made and are now the subject of inquiry by the Australian government.