Thread by @guillaumepajot

[THREAD] 1/ For weeks, cartridges with Cheddite🇫🇷🇮🇹 headstamps have been used against peaceful protesters in Myanmar🇲🇲.

What's the story behind them ? #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar #SaveMyanmar
cc @JusticeMyanmar @MilkTeaMM_MTAM

2/ I first noticed Cheddite ammo, marked 12, when they were used to crack down on protesters in the shipyard in #Mandalay on February 15th (thanks to @infobirmanie). Checked the info and tweeted a few days later :

https://twitter.com/guillaumepajot/status/1363156843850321927

3/ Actually, Cheddite ammo have been used in other cities before, like Moulmein on February 12 ⤵️

https://twitter.com/Pencilo4/status/1360180191339794433

4/ Then, Cheddite ammo popped up everywhere. A few examples :
- Hledan, Yangon on Feb 27 (@MizzimaNews)
- North Okkalapa, Yangon on March 3 (@Myanmar_Now)
- Pathein on March 10
Also found in Dawei, Hakha (Chin state)...

5/ They were used to shoot at an ambulance according to @IrrawaddyNews and @RadioFreeAsia

6/ The full cartridge looks like this. It contains rubber bullets fired by 12 Gauge shotgun. They can kill if not properly used.
The head of ammo is made by Cheddite🇮🇹🇫🇷
But the plastic and rubber bullets come from ZSR, a different company in Turkey🇹🇷

7/ @Brian_Castner from @amnesty and Neil from @Omega_RF have identified that the whole cartridges were actually assembled in Turkey with Cheddite elements.

https://twitter.com/Brian_Castner/status/1370000804116054016

8/ See the full package of the Turkish product. It's called "TRAUMATIC". zsrpatlayici.com/traumatic-en

You can buy it online : sportwaffen-selector.com/Munition/Patro…

9/ Findings about Cheddite and ZSR have been shared in the last excellent @amnesty report about army & police brutality

https://twitter.com/ejlfox/status/1369816067875344386

10/ Cheddite is a Franco-Italian compagny🇫🇷🇮🇹
Zsr Patlayici Sanayi A.S is a Turkish company🇹🇷

I wanted to know what they think about their ammo being used against peaceful protesters in Myanmar.

11/ Cheddite is aware of the situation since a while now. The Italian branch reacted very quickly on Facebook after someone's question.

They say their products are for "sporting and hunting purposes only". #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar

12/ 📞 So I called Cheddite in France and Italy for more.

🇫🇷 "I gave your number to my superior". No news.
🇮🇹 "We know the situation, but don't want to communicate at the moment"

13/ 📞 More interesting was my call to ZSR in Turkey.

🇹🇷 "We don't sell to Myanmar. We are not allowed by our government to sell to Myanmar. I have no idea how our products got there."

14/ 🔴 At this point, how these Cheddite/ZSR ammo went into Myanmar is still a mystery.

They might have been sold to Myanmar by third parties - avoiding the EU arms embargo🇪🇺.

Thx everyone who looked into this @Brian_Castner @amnesty @Omega_RF @ElluinA @ejlfox. To be continued.