Japan dispatches an expert as "Chief Support Services Officer (CSSO)" to the Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB) in the Mindanao Peace Process

On February 21, 2022, Ambassador KOSHIKAWA Kazuhiko signed the Memorandum of Cooperation between Japan and IDB for an expert deploying to the IDB. With this signature, Japan has initiated the deployment of Mr SUDA Michio to the IDB to serve as the new Chief Support Services Officer from March 15, 2022. This is Japan's first personnel contribution to the IDB.

Mr Suda, a retired Colonel of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Forces, has extensive experience and knowledge from United Nations (UN) peacekeeping operations, including twice tour of duty with the Department of Peacekeeping Operations at the UN Headquarters as a military planning officer and a senior military advisor to a senior political affairs officer, during which Mr Suda has engaged in start-up and reviews of UN missions in East Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East regions.

Ambassador Koshikawa commented "Japan has been supporting the Mindanao Peace Process for more than 20 years. Following the establishment of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) in February 2019, the Government of Japan has stepped up its comprehensive support for the Normalization process, the establishment of Bangsamoro Government and the related socio-economic infrastructures. With regard to the Normalization, Japan has scaled up its assistance for the IDB’s activities, and pledged that it intends to contribute personnel in addition to the financial and material assistance to date. Decommissioning of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) combatants and weapons is an important aspect of the peace process, which will benefit the region in ways beyond just curbing violence. This dispatch is a strong testament to Japan's unwavering commitment to supporting efforts for achieving permanent peace."
 
The IDB is created by the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the MILF to oversee the process of decommissioning of MILF combatants and weapons. It is a key component of the Normalization process in accordance with the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro signed in 2014. The IDB is composed of international experts from the governments of Turkey, Norway, Brunei and local experts nominated by the GPH and MILF, and will now also have contribution from Japan.
 
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