Small Arms in Myanmar

“To be dead honest, my white privilege was really working for me in all this. If I had been an Asian kid, if I had been even a brown American kid, no way would I have been able to get away with this. But [it worked] because I was this random white kid showing up on a bike and saying, ‘Hey, man, you want some cigarettes? Can I see your M-16?’”

Miles Vining’s journey is an intriguing mix of youthful curiosity and geopolitical fascination. Growing up in Yangon during the late 2000s, he attended the International School of Yangon, where his peers ranged from diplomats' children to members of Myanmar's military elite. Despite the oppressive backdrop of a military dictatorship, his teenage years were defined by a mix of mischief and an unusual passion: firearms. Inspired by video games like Call of Duty, Miles turned his focus to the real-world small arms he encountered on the streets of Yangon. His boldness and ingenuity enabled him to engage with armed guards and closely examine their weapons, ultimately building an impressive knowledge base on Burmese military small arms before the age of 16. This passion culminated in the publication of his findings in Small Arms Review under a pseudonym, earning him recognition among military analysts.

What began as a personal hobby evolved into a comprehensive exploration of Myanmar’s intricate small-arms ecosystem. Miles meticulously documented weapons originating from diverse sources, including China, Egypt, Israel, Singapore, and Vietnam War relics, revealing how the Myanmar military sustained its arsenal through creative improvisation and refurbishment. His work shed light on the resourcefulness required in a low-resource setting and exposed the tangled network of geopolitical relationships influencing the country’s arms supply. By delving into questions like “How did these weapons arrive here?” and “What do their serial numbers reveal?” Miles unearthed deeper stories about Myanmar’s turbulent history and ongoing struggle for freedom. His research transcended technical analysis, offering insights into the broader sociopolitical dynamics underpinning the country’s military strategies.

Miles' above quote references how he began cataloging the details of Burmese soldiers' weapons, engaging with guards and taking meticulous notes on their features, serial numbers, and origins. Remarkably, his boldness was met with tolerance, a privilege he attributes to being a white American in a racially charged society. This access allowed him to compile a database on Myanmar’s small arms far surpassing the insights of established analysts.

Miles’ admission of how his "white privilege" afforded him opportunities others would never have highlights the deep inequities in access and perception. His casual interactions, like offering cigarettes to guards in exchange for examining their rifles, would likely have ended poorly for others without his racial and cultural advantages. Amazingly, his early research contributed significantly to understanding the complexities of Myanmar’s military armament.

Listen to his full episode by subscribing to Insight Myanmar wherever you get your podcasts.