Jiji Press

The government decided Tuesday to supply 14 heavy machines, including those categorized as weapons, to disaster-hit Haiti.

The machines are being used by Ground Self-Defense Force troops to support Haiti’s reconstruction–after a powerful earthquake in 2010–as part of the U.N. Stabilization Mission in Haiti.

Of them, four are classified as weapons because they have gun mounts.

The government had been unable to transfer such machines to other countries due to its ban on weapons exports.

But the ban was eased in December 2011 to allow weapons to be transferred to other countries for peaceful uses and international cooperation. Supplying the machines to Haiti marks the first time machines classified as weapons have been handed over to another country.

The Japanese and Haitian governments will soon sign a deal on the transfer of the equipment, including hydraulic excavators.

The government also decided to supply other GSDF equipment used in Haiti, including power generators and lights, to the United Nations.

It was also decided to extend the GSDF troops’ stay in Haiti by two months until the end of March 2013 due to the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy in October. The GSDF unit was scheduled to pull out of Haiti at the end of next month.