Influencer’s attempt to give isolated tribe Diet Coke condemned

By Ben Barry

Influencers are a "new threat" to isolated tribes, and attempts to contact them are human rights abuse, according to a charity.

US Citizen and social media influencer, Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov, 24, allegedly landed on North Sentinel Island in an attempt to make contact with the tribe who live there.

During his visit, Mykhailo allegedly left a can of Diet Coke and a coconut on the shore before he was arrested.

The Sentinelese are uncontacted indigenous people living on North Sentinel Island.

The tribe vigorously rejects all contact with outsiders, and in 2018, John Allen Chau, was killed on the island after making contact with the tribe.

Callum Russel, from Survival International, a human rights organization fighting for tribal people's survival, said trying to make contact with tribes is a "major human rights abuse".

Callum, an Asia research and advocacy officer, said: "There is no justification for doing so whatsoever.

"It is not only pathetic and idiotic, it is also genocidal.

"The Sentelese's neighboring tribe were wiped out by disease. This is not just about the danger to the tourist, but the danger to the indigenous people who live there.

"It is a major human rights abuse, you shouldn't justify TikToker's going to make contact with these tribes."

The Sentinelese are the most isolated Indigenous people in the world, and continue to resist all contact with outsiders.

In recent years, there has been a rise in "danger tourism" where people will visit countries deemed dangerous by their government.

More from this section

Israeli politicians, ex-security officials slam 'Jewish terrorism' in West Bank

As Gas Prices Rise, Credit Cards Can Help — But Choose (and Use) Wisely

Mideast war presents 'serious risk' for Africa: report

Callum said that influencers are the latest threat that Indigenous people are facing.

He said: "Influencers are a new threat, the main threats are still logging, mining, and development, however, there are growing threats of influencers going to these areas.

"We need to realize this is not funny, it is human rights abuse, they are abusing the rights of people, and genuinely putting them at risk of death.

"It is a growing threat, it has really illustrated the dehumanisation and racism towards Indigenous people today."

Survival International said they were "shocked" and said the news that a US national tried to contact the tribe was "deeply disturbing”.

Survival International’s Director, Caroline Pearce, said: “It beggars belief that someone could be that reckless and idiotic.

"This person’s actions not only endangered his own life, but they also put the lives of the entire Sentinelese tribe at risk.

"It’s very well known by now that uncontacted peoples have no immunity to common outside diseases like flu or measles, which could completely wipe them out.

“The Sentinelese have made their wish to avoid outsiders incredibly clear over the years – I’m sure many remember the 2018 incident in which an American missionary, John Allen Chau, was killed by them after landing on their island to try to convert them to Christianity."

Survival International said that the threat from influencers is one of a number of threats faced by the Indigenous community around the world.

The charity said: “Uncontacted Indigenous peoples around the world are experiencing the invasion of their lands on a shocking scale.

"Countless uncontacted peoples in the Amazon are being invaded by loggers and gold-miners.

"The uncontacted Shompen of Great Nicobar Island, not far from North Sentinel, will be wiped out if India goes ahead with its plan to transform their island into “the Hong Kong of India.”

"The common factor in all these cases is governments’ refusal to abide by international law and recognize and protect uncontacted peoples’ territories.”