Fischer's passport – to freedom?

by ChessBase
3/8/2005 – March 9th is Bobby Fischer's 62nd birthday. By chance a very special gift has arrived in Japan for the former world champion: an Icelandic passport with which he may be able to travel to freedom after more than six months in a Japanese detention facility. We have exclusive pictures of the new passport.
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We received the following information from John Bosnitch of the Committee to Free Bobby Fischer

Bobby Fischer has passport, ready to travel! The Committee to Free Bobby Fischer is very pleased to announce that Bobby's lawyer, Masako Suzuki, took possession of his new Icelandic passport at the Icelandic embassy in Tokyo at shortly after 9:00 PM on March 7, 2005.

The Committee will address this critical development at its already scheduled news conference at the Foreign correspondents' Club of Japan, on the 20th floor of the Yurakucho Denki Building in Tokyo, starting at 4:00 PM on March 8, 2005. This conference is open and unrestricted.

Tomorrow, March 9th, will be Bobby Fischer's 62nd birthday. We have already bought his present: a plane ticket. Free the King of Chess! Free Bobby Fischer Now!

Einar S. Einarsson, Secretary of the RJF Committee in Iceland, also wrote and sent us the following exclusive pictures from Japan.


Lawyer Masko Suzuki with Fischer's passport

On March 7th Bobby Fischer's s lawyer, Masko Suzuki, received his new passport, which had been kept in the Icelandic Embassy here for more than a week.


Fischer's Icelandic passport

On Tuesday morning Suzuki will notify the Directory of Immigration/Ministry of Justice and the Director of the Detention Center "Tourist Camp Lock-up" where the former world champion has been imprisoned for almost eight months. Suzuki will demand Fischer's immediate release and free travel permission.


Fischer's Japanese fiancée Miyoko Watai and his old buddy Saemi "Rock" Palsson with the new passport

The Japanese authorities have known all the time of the existence of Bobby's new Iceland passport, but did not respond as expected. Still the game for Bobby´s freedom is not over, it may take some days more before he can travel to Iceland.


Miyoko and Saemi, Fischer's dearest friends

His old friend Saei visited Bobby today. Tears were shed when the two met after 33 years, separated by a glass window.


Members of Fischer's support team with the crucial document

By the way Bobby sends his best birthday wishes to Bent Larsen, who turned 70 a few days ago. He spoke highly of Larsen, whom he respects more than many other GMs.

Previous ChessBase articles

Fischer receives an Icelandic passport
2/23/2005 Immigration authorities in Iceland have decided to issue full travel documents for former world champion Bobby Fischer, who is being held in Japanese detention for not possessing a valid passport. Fischer's new passport will be sent to Japan by diplomatic mail, and a delegation is traveling there to escort him to Iceland.
Fischer's lawyer Masako Suzuki speaks out
02.02.2005 Is Japan buckling under pressure by the US? Bobby Fischer, 61, former World Champion of Chess who has been jailed in Japan for six months now, is applying for Icelandic citizenship. But Tokyo seems to be balking at a constructive solution entailing his release to Iceland. Fischer's lawyer Masako Suzuki has given us an exclusive interview.

Bobby Fischer applies for Icelandic Citizenship
25.01.2005 After the Japanese authorities last week refused Fischer's request to be extradited to Iceland the chess legend, who is being held in a Japanese detention facility, has today written to the President of the Icelandic Althingi (picture), applying for Icelandic citizenship. A special law would have to be passed to grant Fischer's request.

Bobby Fischer – immigration plans on ice
22.01.2005 His supporters filed a petition that Fischer might be released from detention in a Tokyo jail and allowed to travel to Iceland, where he has been granted refuge. But Japanese Justice Ministry lawyers said they were not prepared to change Fischer's deportation destination to Iceland, and that he would have to remain in detention. A harsh blow for the chess legend.

Bobby Fischer – six months in jail
1/17/2005 On July 13, 2004 he was arrested at Narita Airport in Tokyo, for attempting to leave the country on an invalidated. Since then the greatest hero of Western chess has been languishing in a Japanese detention facility, now physically exhausted and suffering from dizzy spells. His Icelandic friends, who are offering him refuge, have launched another appeal to the authorities.

US threatens Iceland, Fischer Committee appeals
22.12.2004 Iceland is under US pressure to drop plans to offer a home to fugitive former chess champion Bobby Fischer, the Reuters news agency tells us. But the Icelandic government has stated that its offer "will not be withdrawn despite pressure from the United States." How do we know that? Among other things we read it in Aljazeera, would you believe? Here's the latest on this international confrontation.
RJF Committee mobilizes pro-Fischer forces
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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...
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'We want to live together forever'
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Listen to Bobby Fischer
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Dramatic moments around Fischer's deportation
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'Bobby Fischer and I have decided to marry'
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Fischer renounces US citizenship
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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
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Fischer a sacrificial pawn?
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Bobby Fischer detained in Japan (updated)
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