Bobby Fischer – immigration plans on ice

Bobby Fischer's legal team have informed us that on Wednesday his lawyers Masako Suzuki, Takeshi Ohashi and Noriko Watanabe attended a hearing in Courtroom No. 606, of the Tokyo District Court (1-1-1, Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo) to plead for his immediate release by Japanese immigration officials. The filed a writ of habeas corpus based on demands by Bobby Fischer's fiancee Miyoko Watai and the head of the Committee to Free Bobby Fischer, John Bosnitch. This new legal initiative of habeas corpus was based on the fact that Mr. Fischer has the means and desire to leave Japan and that the vexatious actions of the Japanese authorities in stopping him from leaving the country just so that they can expel him to the United States give no basis in law for his continued detention.

At a hearing the attorney for Japanese immigration authorities, refused to answer questions from Fischer's lawyers about allowing his departure for Iceland, repeatedly saying the original court case could not be dropped and must be heard. Judge Toshihiko Tsuruoka said there was no precedent for arguing over a destination of a deportation order. "We need to consider the framework of this case," he told the court. The next session was set for Feb. 1.

"It is against international law (to keep him detained). Japan's Ministry of Justice is violating law," Masako Suzuki told a news conference after filing the petition. The supporters said Fischer was planning to send a letter to Iceland requesting citizenship while they would appeal for support to UN ambassadors from each country in Japan.

US reaction to Fischer's accusations

Meanwhile a United States Embassy official in Tokyo scoffed at an accusation the U.S. is treating Japan like a colony in its handling of jailed chess champion Bobby Fischer. U.S. Embassy Press Attache Michael Boyle dismissed the claim made at a news conference by John Bosnitch, head of the Committee to Free Bobby Fischer. "That's insulting to the U.S. and to Japan and it's certainly not the truth," Boyle told the Mainichi Daily News. "Japan and the United States are close allies. We have extremely good bilateral relations."

Boyle said that the U.S. government had discussed Fischer's case with its counterparts in Japan and Iceland, which last month offered Fischer residency. Iceland believed it would pave the way for Fischer's release from the East Japan Immigration Bureau Detention Center in Ushiku, Ibaraki Prefecture, where he is fighting the details of a deportation order issued against him.

News reports

• Supporters of Fischer ask court for his immediate release (Channel NewsAsia, 19.01.2005)
• Bobby Fischer: 'Get me out' (Mail and Guardian online, 19.01.2005)
• Petitioning For Bobby Fischer (CBS News, 19.01.2005)
• Bobby Fischer's Reykjavik refuge plan put on ice (Mainichi Daily News, 19.01.2005)
• U.S. scoffs at accusation of treating Japan like colony in Fischer case (Mainichi Daily News, 19.01.2005)

Previous ChessBase articles

RJF Committee mobilizes pro-Fischer forces 18.12.2004 While Bobby Fischer remains incarcerated in a Japanese prison a special committee in Iceland is moving to get him free and find him a home on the North-Atlantic island country. Iceland's foreign minister and a prominent political scientist have spoken out. Here's a report on Fischer's Iceland Connection...

Fischer to get refuge in Iceland? 12/16/2004 The news today on Bobby Fischer, who is currently being held in a Japanese detention facilities pending extradition to the US, is that the Icelandic government has offered to grant him a residence permit. In a telephone interview Fischer speaks about his plight in Japan and reacts to statements by Garry Kasparov on Fischer Random Chess. Full details...

Returning to the 'scene of the crime' 30.11.2004 Twelve years ago Boris Spassky played a match against Bobby Fischer in Yugoslavia. That got Fischer into a lot of trouble, while for Spassky, a French citizen, there were no repercussions. Now the tenth world champion returned to Belgrade to open the Belgrade Chess Trophy. Quick interview...

Fischer to Bush and Koizumi: 'You are going to pay for this!' 18.10.2004 Bobby Fischer, still in detention in Japan, has spoken out again in an interview, this time threatening the Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi and US President Bush: "You are going to pay for this, and you are going to pay for your crimes in Iraq too." His new lawyer, Richard J. Vattuone, plans to release documents to prove US government involvement in a plot against Fischer.

'We want to live together forever' 01.09.2004 She collected pictures of her chess hero after his match with Boris Spassky in 1972. One year later they met in Tokyo – the start of a romance spanning decades. Since four years the two have lived together in downtown Kamata in Tokyo's Ota Ward. In an exclusive interview for ChessBase Miyoko Watai tells us the story of her life with Bobby Fischer.

Listen to Bobby Fischer 26.08.2004 In emotional phone calls from his detention cell in Tokyo ex world champion Bobby Fischer gave a Philippine radio station two lengthy interviews. Fischer is facing deportation and incarceration in the US, and voices his nightmare fears: "I will be tried, convicted, sentenced, imprisoned, tortured and murdered." We have summary transcripts and audio files.

Dramatic moments around Fischer's deportation 25.08.2004 First the Japanese Justice Minister Daizo Nozawa issued a deportation order against former world champion Bobby Fischer's, then Fischer's lawyers filed a lightning appeal on the grounds that physical deportation would be a flagrant violation of Fischer's right to full legal recourse and protection under Japanese law. Here's the full story by Fischer's legal coordinator.

'Bobby Fischer and I have decided to marry' 17.08.2004 Bobby Fischer, the former world chess champion, plans to marry the president of the Japan Chess Association (and four-time Japanese women's champion) Miyoko Watai. This was reported in newspapers and wire services last night. Now Watai-san has sent us a statement explaining the background of her personal relationship with Fischer.

Fischer renounces US citizenship 15.08.2004 Bobby Fischer has been moved to a new detention facility in Tokyo, pending a decision on his deportation to the US, where he faces a 10-year jail sentence. A lot of new material has surfaced, including Fischer's handwritten renouncement of his US citizenship and a blow-by-blow description and picture of his arrest at Narita Airport. Harrowing stuff...

Spassky to Bush: Arrest me! 10.08.2004 Boris Spassky, who played the contentious return match against Bobby Fischer in Yugoslavia 1992, for which the latter is currently facing deportation and incarceration in the US, has appealed to President Bush to show mercy and charity for his tormented successor. If for some reason that should be impossible, Spassky suggests a very imaginative alternative...

Fischer's appeal rejected 28.07.2004 Bobby Fischer's appeal against his deportation was rejected today by Japanese authorities. Meanwhile the Icelandic Chess Federation has appealed to US president Bush to pardon Fischer and set up a petition web site to collect signatures. In Tokyo a "Free Fischer Press Conference" is scheduled for Thursday. More...

Fischer a sacrificial pawn? 25.07.2004 Bobby Fischer is still in detention at Narita Airport in Tokyo, traumatised but stubborn, "behaving like a Samurai". At the same time news outlets all over the world are covering the story, with Fischer's brother-in-law Russell Targ assailing the Bush administration for playing election year politics with the former chess champion's freedom. There's a lot to be read...

Game of Life: Kasparov on Fischer - in full 20.07.2004 The news of Fischer's arrest in Japan came as a shock to Garry Kasparov, who was in a holiday camp working intensely on the games of his greatest American predecessor. In today's issue of The Wall Street Journal Kasparov assesses Fischer's chess career – for a public that was being exposed to his current situation. We now bring you Kasparov's full article.

Will Fischer be extradited? 19.07.2004 Chess legend Bobby Fischer, the hero of millions, languishes in the detention facilities of Narita Airport in Tokyo, waiting for a decision by Japanese Immigration authorities on his deportation to the US. We have collected all the documents and reconstructed a timeline to his arrest. Fischer, who has no legal counsel, is appealing for international assistance.

Bobby Fischer detained in Japan (updated) 16.07.2004 It's the latest twist in the sad tale of American former world champion Bobby Fischer. He has been detained in Japan and faces possible deportation to the US to face charges for playing in Yugoslavia in 1992. Fischer's website says he was "very nearly killed" in Japan. The story has been picked up by news services all over the world.