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Sean Penn Blasts UK's 'Ridiculous Colonialism'

Sean Penn

First Posted: 14/02/2012 07:42 Updated: 14/02/2012 07:53   WENN

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Outspoken Oscar-winner Sean Penn has accused UK authorities of "ridiculous colonialism" and backed Argentina in the Falklands dispute.

The Hollywood actor blasted the British government as he met with Argentina's President Cristina Kirchner to discuss rising tensions over the South Atlantic islands.

Using the Falkland Islands' Spanish name, he claimed Britain should negotiate a deal and end its "demonstrations of colonialism".

He said: "I know I came at a very sensitive moment in terms of diplomacy between Argentina and the UK over the Malvinas.

"I hope that diplomats can establish true dialogue in order to solve the conflict.

"The world today cannot tolerate ridiculous demonstrations of colonialism. The way of dialogue is the only way to achieve a better solution for both nations."

Prime Minister David Cameron is backing a plan to allow the islanders to decide who they want to be ruled by.

He recently said: "As long as they want to remain part of the United Kingdom and be British, they should be able to do so."

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Outspoken Oscar-winner Sean Penn has accused UK authorities of "ridiculous colonialism" and backed Argentina in the Falklands dispute. The Hollywood actor blasted the British government as he met w...
Outspoken Oscar-winner Sean Penn has accused UK authorities of "ridiculous colonialism" and backed Argentina in the Falklands dispute. The Hollywood actor blasted the British government as he met w...
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Mia de Graaf

Mia de Graaf: Sean Penn and the Falklands Farce

If we start looking back to 'what was whose' almost two centuries ago when British control over the islands began, then there's much more than just the Falklands that should be handed back to its original owners. If this issue really is to be dug up again it needs to be worked at from its core. Celebrities can only be peppered on once there is a political springboard to bounce off. It's awfully avant-garde of Sean to jump the gun, but where's the oppressed minority he's speaking for?

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ljmck
Stand Up, Show Up, Speak Up
2646 Fans
20:16 on 19/02/2012
Right now, the Japanese want the United States to remove its military base from Okinawa. Better you should address that issue, Mr. Penn. We're directly involved in that.

This Falklands argument doesn't appear to be a human rights issue, nor does it seem that the Falklanders are objecting to their British status. It's likely that a U.S. voice is neither needed or welcome on this.
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mirola
13 Fans
23:16 on 18/02/2012
UK's ridiculous colonialism and THAT comes out of the mouth of an American (USA), the country that annexed Hawaii in 1898 when it was an independent republic? This dumb American clearly doesn't know his own history, but feels good enough to go and point fingers.
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trailerguy
170 Fans
17:33 on 18/02/2012
You poor Brits are so hated by your former colonies> Canada hates you so much , as a sign of disrespect they have your Queen all over their money. How about when Newfoundland wanted to leave the empire in 49, what a bloodvbath, luckly you didn't get the bomb until 52. Gilbrtor, i am always reading about how the bloody struggle is taking place their. Belize/British Honderis could wait to get riid of you, so they could join their peaceful democracy loving neighbors Guatemela.
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stephan67
Eternity and a day
387 Fans
08:01 on 18/02/2012
Does Sean Penn know about international poltics? I don't think so. Just another ignorant who wants to be a hero.
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trailerguy
170 Fans
17:34 on 18/02/2012
hard to know about politcis when your head is ,well you know
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Sea Fossil
1 Fans
19:49 on 17/02/2012
Excerpts from a recent UN meeting.
Foreign Minister Taiana told delegates that Argentina was ready to resume negotiations with the United Kingdom, and called for the UK to abide by previous UN resolutions requesting the two countries to resume talks over the islands’ sovereignty.

Janet Robertson, a member of the Legislative Assembly of the Falklands Islands who was present at the meeting as a petitioner, accused Argentina of an aggressive stance and listed several concerns about the draft resolution.

She said that while peaceful negotiation to resolve a dispute would seem a “noble and eminently reasonable course of actionâ€, the terms of the resolution would “force one party to the table to negotiate away the rights and freedoms of the people of a nation†without regard for the “democratic wishes†of those people. She said this was “quite simply unacceptable and unjust in the 21st centuryâ€.
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jimwasp
0 Fans
18:25 on 17/02/2012
Mr Penn should stick to acting.......badly.
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trailerguy
170 Fans
17:36 on 18/02/2012
you mean the former Mr Ciccione.
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Sea Fossil
1 Fans
12:12 on 17/02/2012
No mention of South Georgia Mr Penn, why? no oil. We had a good working relationship with Argentina until the realisation that there may be oil there came about. Quicker we find an alternative energy source or use the ones that have been found, the better for the world.
Should we not give Gibraltar back to Spain Mr Penn? or Rockall back to whoever. The only country where we have troops stationed that are not wanted is Afganistan. I for one votes bring them home.
It is odd that Great Britain is such a bad place to live in that every man jack and his dog are trying to get in. It is also worth noting that the people of Sierra Leone want to be ruled directly from Westminster but we had to turn them down as the request smacked of "colonialism"
"dont cry for me Argentina" wonder if she knew the implications the song would bring.
Nils desperandum
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herestheblag
2 Fans
 
10:49 on 17/02/2012
It’s puzzling why Sean favours one set of ridiculous colonialists over another?
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trailerguy
170 Fans
17:40 on 18/02/2012
porbably because you have given refiuge to his very famous exwife. There was a time, long ago when he was more famous than Madonna. Many years age indeed
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glynntex
7 Fans
02:46 on 17/02/2012
Can't you see an Actor aspiring and in the making to become a Politician?
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lenuk
85 Fans
12:12 on 17/02/2012
You mean he's trying to take over control of the Monster Raving Loony Party?
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Jimmybellendo
0 Fans
01:28 on 17/02/2012
Sean Penn's ability as an actor does not qualify him to be a world philosopher or sage as to the affairs of nations, just as the ability of a sage to speak on the affairs of nations does not qualify him to be an actor.
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jbooth071
0 Fans
23:20 on 16/02/2012
well im a uk citizen and i hold no love for this government,BUT,i think that with america's past with the true american indian's he should realy take a view on his own back yard before spouting his VIP enlarged mouth about the way we do things ,also if he wishes to purchase the falklands from the uk government (:with his enlarged wallet from all his fabulous acting carreer lol: ), im sure they would give him a fare price......
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mrangry
22 Fans
18:44 on 16/02/2012
What has the Falklands got to do with an American Actor? Why is he even discussing politics with Argentina's President? Says it all about Argentine politics, when discussions about foreign affairs are discussed between their Head of State and an Actor! Wouldn't surprise me in the least if there is some Irish ancestory in his background, and (just like Micky Rourke) its just an excuse to vent his republican feelings against the U.K. As for colonialism, isn't that exactly what Argentina wants to do to the Falklands, turn it into a Argentine colony? The only people who should matter are those that actually live on the Falklands, they and they alone should determine their status. In fact I think they should be (if they haven't already) given their independence, and become a country in their own right, with Britain guaranteeing them their self Governing rights. That should put an end to both the U.K.'s and Argentina's claims to them.
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PASUJOBA
0 Fans
17:48 on 18/02/2012
good comments but be careful they will delete them if they sense any common sense and logic
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theoracle2012
2 Fans
18:33 on 16/02/2012
Sean Penn knows nothing about history. When the British first arrived in the Falklands nobody lived there at all. It wasn't taken by conquest as all Argentinian textbooks claim and didn't even have a name, so this whole thing about 'Los Malvinas' is fabricated. It was only when Britons stayed and found valuable resources that Spain and Argentina suddenly had any interest. Older maps of that region don't even register the Falklands being there.
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PASUJOBA
0 Fans
17:49 on 18/02/2012
Agree with you , How did the spanish take control of argentina !
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pouncing
0 Fans
16:41 on 16/02/2012
As far as past colonies go, Britain has given back more than any other country,and never is it a question for other countrys like france to start giving up thier interests. The only notable feature of the Falklands is now the oil,and the people are Brittish so why would give them over to a country whos people have never known anything else. Greed Politics and resentment..
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roblpittman
0 Fans
21:45 on 16/02/2012
Britain doesn't and hasn't "gven back" colonies. Britain has been deposed and sent packing. Hong Kong, India, many African nations, Fiji, Australia, Canada etc. The British Empire has shrunk to the UK and a few small islands around the world. There was an Argentinian garrison on the islands that was gunned of them by the British decades before Britain setted Britons on the island.
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Jordan Estevez
1 Fans
06:37 on 17/02/2012
you utter knob,Hong Kong was on a 100 year lease from China and was handed back after 100 years.
Australia,Canada,India,Fiji and many more countries form the Commonwealth.
Australia has a English Governor General, and will become a republic in a few years time dependent on a democratic vote.
The Falkland Islands were not even mapped before British people settled there.
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PASUJOBA
0 Fans
17:50 on 18/02/2012
In need of an history lesson I see
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Andrew Casemore
4 Fans
 
16:39 on 16/02/2012
It has a bit more than sheep to offer such as lucrative fishing waters and oil beneath them. That gives a little more to protect if you don't believe its peoples to be worth protecting. If you want to talk colonialism then maybe you should see the Argentinians as Spanish as those kicking up a fuss now aren't indigenous to the land known as Argentina.
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