Penn accuses UK of 'ridiculous colonialism' over Falklands

Sean Penn

Sean Penn offers his support to Argentina - in return, it seems, for aid to Haiti

LAST UPDATED AT 09:39 ON Tue 14 Feb 2012

AFTER enlisting the help of her fellow South American nations in a blockade of the Falkland Islands, Argentine President Cristina Kirchner has unveiled the latest weapon in her efforts to force Britain to negotiate over the sovereignty of its overseas territory: Sean Penn.

The Hollywood actor, anti-imperialist and friend of Hugo Chavez, has accused Britain of "ridiculous colonialism" over its refusal to join United Nations talks over ownership of the Falklands.

Meeting Kirchner at the Casa Rosada presidential mansion in Buenos Aires, Penn referred to the Falklands by their Spanish name: "I know it is a very sensitive moment in terms of diplomacy between Argentina and the UK over the Malvinas Islands," he said, according to the Buenos Aires Herald.

"I hope that diplomats can establish true dialogue in order to solve the conflict as the world today cannot tolerate ridiculously archaic demonstrations that aim to continue colonialism.

"Dialogue is the only means to achieve a better solution for both nations."

Penn's primary objective in visiting Kirchner was to secure Argentine aid for survivors of the Haiti earthquake of 2010. The Caribbean island bestowed the title of "ambassador at large" on the actor in recognition of his humanitarian efforts a fortnight ago - so perhaps he can be forgiven for making ingratiating noises on behalf of Kirchner.

Nevertheless Falkland Islanders have made their opposition to talks with Argentina clear - and Prime Minister David Cameron has made his support for the territory's self-determination equally clear.

That hasn't stopped Kirchner from embarking on a diplomatic offensive which has garnered the support of the Latin American trading bloc Mercosur for a blockade against ships flying the Falklands flag. Last week Argentina complained to the UN that Britain was "militarising" the South Atlantic by sending a state-of-the-art warship to the Falkland Islands.

Penn is well-known for his support for Latin American self-determination against US hegemony. Not surprisingly, some are asking on Twitter why he doesn't consider self-determination for this tiny overseas territory as important. · 

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Submitted by Woodman on February 14, 2012 - 11:00am.
who does penn think he is?? it is the people of the falklands that matter - they have clearly stated what they want - to remain British
Submitted by Barry Cash on February 14, 2012 - 11:28am.
The people of Britain and the Falkland Islands were perfectly willing to negotiate with Argentina. The problem is that Argentina sent 2,000 soldiers with ships, planes, and tanks to invade an island defended by 40 Royal Marines Commandos. Why on earth would a democratic people want to be ruled by Argentina?
Submitted by Man in a Shed on February 14, 2012 - 12:07pm.
Ruled by Argentina ? They used to push people out of air planes and still try to bully and conqueror peaceful people who live 400 miles away from them.

Argentina walked away from a very generous offer to share mineral benefits from Falklands waters and is instead  warmongering with the help of useful idiots like Penn.
Submitted by Madona on February 14, 2012 - 12:17pm.
Sean Penn is fool. But, to be fair to him, a damn good actor. He doesnt represent anything at all. He is just wanting some publicity as he is getting a bit old now and isn't getting the good job offer anymore.
Submitted by Simon-green on February 14, 2012 - 12:17pm.
Ahh.. I see. I understand now, how foolish of me, he's right... Oh no, wait a minute,...he just ***ing actor. For I minute I was taking him seriously! What a messed up world. Why does this c**p get air time? What really matter is what the islanders think, not Argentina, Cristina Kirchner, David Cameron, and definitely not Sean Penn. Hes just a corporate shill visiting Argnetina. Who is he to talk about colonialism? He's an ACTOR.
Submitted by Jim on February 14, 2012 - 1:02pm.
Does it matter that Sean Penn is 'just' an actor?  Hopefully ordinary citizens still have the right to voice an opinion and his support for the people of Haiti must gain him some credit points.
In saying this I do believe that the people of the Falkland Islands as they wish to be known, have a right to their own choice of allegiance even if it comes from many thousands of kilometers away.
Submitted by Jaundiced_Eye on February 14, 2012 - 1:21pm.
Unlike the US, the Falkland Islands were uninhabited when Europeans first arrived. The only nation to have a prior claim to them is the French. The British were there BEFORE the Spanish. Sean, give back the country you nicked from the Native Americans and then we can talk about the Falklands.
Submitted by Tom Halpin on February 14, 2012 - 2:09pm.
I think you'll find most people outside of the UK will agree with Penn.
Submitted by Alexm on February 14, 2012 - 2:32pm.
Ah you've done a global survey on this have you? D*ckhead
Submitted by Albert DAgostino on February 14, 2012 - 2:43pm.
I just wanted to offer a correction in paragraph six where the author points out that the Souix scalped Custer's men. While this is true, the practice was not initiated by the Indians, Sadly to say, this gruesome practice WAS started by the religious malcontents that fled England and COLONIZED Indian lands. The Indians, or as they were inappropriately called by the cruel colonists, "savages," were marked for early extinction and had a bounty put upon their lives. In order to back up any colonist's claim of murdering an Indian, a scalp was to be offered as proof.
The Indians could not understand why the whitemen were mutilating the dead. But, somewhere along the line as the Indians were headed towards extinction, they adopted the practice of scalping as retribution.
 
I would also like to point out that most of the people who stole the lands from the Indians were British descendents which started during the early colonization period, a custom no doubt they learned from the motherland which was bent on colonizing the world - remember the quote, the sun never sets upom the English empire. I could also go on about England's colonization of India and the uncountable murders committed there by British troops.
 
Cutting off fingers, while a dispicable act by a moron, just extends the long historical pattern of mutilations practiced by the colonizing west European countries.
Submitted by Jaundiced_Eye on February 14, 2012 - 2:52pm.
Sorry Albert, but at the time of the first European settlement on the Falklands they were uninhabited when they were claimed by Britain in 1690
Submitted by CopiousPoosh on February 14, 2012 - 2:53pm.
Sean Penn is an ignorant buffoon, an actor who magically thinks because he's an actor people should listen to him. The movie Team America quite correctly portrayed him as who he really is. A scumbag.
Submitted by Ashley Barnard on February 14, 2012 - 3:07pm.
well that made me laugh, then angry, who the heck does he think he is, ooh and what does he know about the history of the Falklands and Argentina mmm nothing i bet
Submitted by Jonny on February 14, 2012 - 4:12pm.
Think you'll find that you've made an unqualified and untrue statement.
Submitted by Freakingeachin on February 14, 2012 - 4:25pm.
I am curious why this argument lingers on. Historically the UK's claim predates either argentina's or former colonial masters, Spain. Arguing, as the stupid do, that Argentina is, geographically closer is an utterly vacuous argument. The canaries aren't next to Spain, Hawaii isn't near continental US. If proximity where a valid argument the argentines should be laying claim to Uruguay. If proximity is a legitimate argument then why not some other arbitrary standard. The Falklands are islands, Argentina is no, surely the uk, as an island, has a better claim. The Falklands look like North Wales so they should be British. There are lots of sheep so maybe new Zealand should stake a claim. The, I repeat loudly, THE overriding factor is the wishes of the people. The Argentinian government claims the populace isn't indigenous which does make me laugh because I don't remember any native American tribes going by the name of Kirchner or maradonna or Galtieri or Peron or, well you get the point. The only reason this discussion lingers is because there are so many stupid people in the world and an awful lot of people who just don't like the British!
Submitted by Patrizia1 on February 14, 2012 - 4:35pm.
This man is an idiot;  worse than that actually.  But what a waste of space.
Submitted by Patrizia1 on February 14, 2012 - 4:36pm.
ohhhh, I just saw your name.  Now I understand :)  But, sorry he's not a fine actor......he can't even make politically correct comments.
Submitted by Tom Halpin on February 14, 2012 - 5:23pm.
Insults never won an argument. Try reading newspapers online. You may educate yourself to world opinion and in the process may even learn some manners. Unlikely but possible.
Submitted by Paul_bee on February 14, 2012 - 6:13pm.
Most people outside the UK don't believe in the right to self-determinancy? Or are you saying that they only believe in it when it suits their own political agendas? If the Argentines believe that the Falklands belong to them because they owned them a few hundred years ago and everyone outside the UK agrees to this principle, then can the UK please have our East Coast colonies back along with Canada, half of France, Ireland, most of the Asian subcontinent, half of Africa and almost all of the Australasian subcontinent? Afterall, self-determinancy means absolutely nothing outside the UK apparantly.
Submitted by Deckhanddave on February 15, 2012 - 10:56am.
Knob head. He wants to swap one governing country for another? If anything he should be fighting for independance for them. He should stick to acting, hmm, maybe not.
Submitted by Richard on February 15, 2012 - 12:54pm.
Let's be honest, it doesn't take a huge guess to figure out why he has said all this does it? He was there to beg for money and they told him, if you want it, say this. So he said "Ok, the English are bastards...where's my cheque."
Submitted by billcondie on February 15, 2012 - 1:57pm.
I can't find my comment.

Surely it wasn't censored?
Submitted by Zetribe on February 15, 2012 - 5:56pm.
So how much aid did Argentina send to Haiti compared to the UK?
Submitted by Pampero on February 19, 2012 - 6:04am.
Is not only an actor but another citizen of the world (and not the only one) speaking out about british ridiculous politics :D
Submitted by wilbur on February 19, 2012 - 2:05pm.
Although as an American I agree that there is no real issue here and the Falkland Islands belong to the British, I can't help but laugh over the fact that Brits generally have all sorts of sympathy for American liberals (e.g. Obama's overwhelming support there) until those liberals start talking bollocks about BRITAIN.  Obama, Penn and their ilk are morons even when they AREN'T talking about Britain folks.
Submitted by Alba on February 28, 2012 - 3:53am.

He did it to get aid for Haiti.  If only that were so, maybe he could take a look at the numbers again - see how much has the UK given versus Argentina.

Submitted by Stony boys on March 12, 2012 - 5:10pm.


Penn has become a political tool. Sure that is not want he wanted. Innocence can be forgiven so long as the mistake is not repeated.

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Americas
Falkland Islands
Sean Penn
Haiti
Diplomacy
Islas Malvinas
Cristina Kirchner