Sean Penn accuses UK of Falklands 'colonialism'

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During a meeting with Argentinian president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner in Buenos Aires, he called for Britain to join in UN-sponsored talks over the sovereignty of the territory, referring to them as "the Malvinas islands", their Spanish name.

According to the Buenos Aires Herald, Penn, 51, said: "The world today is not going to tolerate any ludicrous and archaic commitment to colonialist ideology.

"I know I came in a very sensitive moment in terms of diplomacy between Argentina and the UK over the Malvinas islands. And I hope that diplomats can establish true dialogue in order to solve the conflict as 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."

The comments come amid high tensions between Argentina and Britain as the 30th anniversary of the Falklands conflict approaches.

Argentina last week formally complained to the UN about the deployment of HMS Dauntless to the region, saying Britain was "militarising" the South Atlantic.

His intervention has surprised islanders, with Lisa Watson, editor of the Falklands newspaper the Penguin News, tweeting: "Ha Ha if Penn supported UK Brits would probably ask what gives an actor the right to have an opinion on the Falklands?"

The actor has a history of embroiling himself in political debate. In 2002, he paid £40,000 for a full-page advert in the Washington Post to attack the Bush administration.