The Iceland Connection
When the Icelandic Authorities announced that Bobby Fischer is welcomed to
Iceland, and that Mr. David Oddsson foreign minister has decided at Bobby's request
to grant him a residence visa, five members of Bobby Fischer's support group
were at the Japanese Embassy in Reykjavik, protesting and appealing for his
unconditional release from detention in Tokyo. A day later they visited the
US Embassy.
The RJF Committee, with M. Skúlason; G.Thorarinsson; H. Olafsson, Lilja
Gretarsdottir, G. Sverrisson, S. Palsson, I. Asmundsson; H. Jökulsson; E.Einarsson
The RJF Committee of Iceland was formed in support of the 11th world champion
and is fighting for his freedom from detention in Japan. Among the members of this
committee are GM Helgi Olafsson, G. Thorarinsson (chief organizer of the Fischer-Spassky
match in 1972), Lilja Grétarsdóttir (president of ICF) and others.
Fischer's connections to Iceland have never broken. He phones his old buddy
and “bodyguard” Saemi Palsson on a daily basis, so that the RJF Committee has
been able to follow his situation very closely. Bobby wrote a private letter
to the Icelandic foreign minister, Mr. David Oddsson, former prime minister
and an avid chess fan, asking for a residence permit in Iceland.
Celebrating the news that their government has invited Fischer to live
in Iceland: the RJF committee members Gudmundur Thorarinsson; GM Helgi Olafsson,
Lilja Gretarsdottir; President ICF, Saemi Palsson; Hrafn Jökulsson.
David Oddsson, Island's Foreign Minister
Excerpts from an interview conducted on 17.12.2004 on the RUV (Icelandic State
Radio)
Foreign Minister David Oddsson had told the American Ambassador about the
decision of the Icelandic government last Wednesday and stated that his ministry
has not been subsequently approached by US authorities with any complaints,
statements or inquires of any kind concerning the offer of the Iceland government
to grant Bobby Fischer a residence permit in Iceland.
Mr. Oddsson said that if Bobby's participation in the match in Yugoslavia
in 1992 has been a violation of the UN embargo enforced upon Yugoslavia in
1992 then according to Icelandic law it has no validation now because of statute
of limitation. Mr. Oddsson pointed out that Iceland supported the UN embargo
on Yugoslavia just like the USA in 1992. Oddsson: "From our point of view,
if it is really a violation of an embargo to play chess there, then nevertheless
it has no validation here because of statute of limitation. Our view is
that we find it odd to persecute a man because of a matter of this kind. The
US Ambassador in Iceland emphasized that this was a not a matter of the US
Foreign Ministry but the US Ministry of Justice. I said that I was not asking
for permission of any kind to make this decision, however I was informing him
about my decision in full respect and friendship.
I don't see any reason for people being afraid that US will ask us to hand
him over because I do not believe the Americans will push so hard so as to
have him handed over. In any case we would stick to aforementioned fact –
the statute of limitation – and the fact that he is not breaking Icelandic
law by playing chess."
Is Fischer getting special treatment? Mr. Oddsson: "It is quite natural
that people should think this individual is a getting special treatment, and
we cannot explain it otherwise. This is a very special individual who is tied
to Iceland's history in a special way. I do not recall another case of this
kind in recent years, but we also reacted differently many years ago in the
case of Vladimir Ashkenazy, that was of course because he was tied to us in
a special way". Ashkenazy, the world famaous conductor and pianist, defected
from the USSR and is married to an Icelandic lady.
Open Letter to the American Ambassador to Iceland
On December 15 a very sharp open letter appeared in Morgunbladid, Iceland's
leading newspaper. It was translated by Anna C. Benassi and sent to us by Einar
S. Einarsson, International Affairs Liaison of the Icelandic Chess Federation.
The author is Garðar Sverrisson, a political scientist, who wrote it on behalf
of the Robert J Fischer Support Group in Iceland. In the letter, addressed
to the American Ambassador in Reykjavik, Sverrisson says: "There was a
time when the authorities in your country were passionately interested in getting
Robert J. Fischer to compete for the title of world champion in chess. It was
so important that the Secretary of State himself, Henry Kissinger, made phone
calls in all directions so that the world could see America’s national hero
bring the Soviets to their knees in their own national sport. When it came
to facing off against the Soviet system, it was difficult to conceive of a
genius who was more independent in his words and actions, an individual who
heeded nothing other than his own convictions, no matter whether he himself
profited by it or paid for it dearly. And now those same character traits in
the personality of the selfsame individual have occasioned fiercer vengeance
tactics against that individual than the Soviet Union itself could imagine
employing against its most disobedient chess masters."
Letter from Boris Spassky
Einar Einarsson has also received a brief message from ex world champion
Boris Spassky:
Dear Einar,
Thank you very much for very good news. Now when the whole chess world is
cowardly silent, Icelandic people made a natural and brave move to help Bobby.
Congratulations. And my applause! If you need my assistance or help, please
let me know. I will join with great pleasure the group of brave Icelandic people.
I take the opportunity wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Boris and Marina Spassky
Richard Wall: The Hounding of a Chess Legend
The freelance writer who lives in Portugal has put together a well-written
summary of the current situation of Bobby Fischer. Wall is a fervent believer
in individual freedom and opposed to government harassment of individual persons.
He thinks that the action by the US government is a vindictive one. The US
government wanted to do a deal with the Japanese government: the Japanese would
get Charles Jenkins, who deserted from the US army to North Korea many years
ago and married a Japanese woman, and the US would get Fischer, who has lived
mainly in Japan in recent years. This, however, did not work, because Fischer
immediately took legal action to stop his deportation to the US. But Jenkins
has been released to Japan.
Iceland
Iceland is a volcanic island between the Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic
Ocean. It has the world's oldest functioning legislative assembly, the Althing,
which was established in 930. Iceland was independent for over 300 years, and
subsequently ruled by Norway and Denmark. Limited home rule from Denmark was
granted in 1874 and complete independence attained in 1944. Literacy, longevity,
income, and social cohesion are first-rate by world standards.
Iceland has the greatest density of chess players, rated players and Grandmaster
per unit of population than anywhere else in the world. In 1972 the match of
the century between Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky was held in Reykjavík,
Iceland.
Previous ChessBase articles
 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. |
