Former world chess champion Bobby Fischer marked his 247th day
of incarceration in Japan with a scathing attack of the American
and Japanese governments Friday.
Calling the Bulletin from his cell at the East Japan Immigration
Detention Center in Ushiku, Ibarahi Prefecture Japan, Fischer
accused the Japanese of kidnapping and illegal detention in
connivance with the US government.
Reports the other day had indicated that Fischer would soon be
released after Iceland had granted the recluse an asylum and
possible citizenship.
The release, however, did not materialize forcing Fischer to
call this paper to air his dismay and grievances.
Fischer, who celebrated his 62nd birthday last March 9, said he
was put on isolation for two days in the last five days and
could not sleep soundly because jail authorities won’t turn off
the lights.
"I lost a lot of weight because they continuously fed me with
low-quality chicken which I don’t eat," said Fischer, who
nevertheless sounded alert and resolute during the hour-long
conversation.
The controversial chess figure, who rocketed to fame in the US
during the Cold War when he defeated Boris Spassky of the Soviet
Union for the world chess title in Reykjavic, Iceland in 1972,
maintained that his arrest and detention are illegal.
Throughout the interview, Fischer used words not fit for print
while describing the American and Japanese governments.
Fischer was arrested on July 13, 2004 while leaving Japan for
the Philippines. He was charged with traveling with a revoked US
passport.
A constant visitor in the country, Fischer has not set foot in
the United States since 1992, the year he defied international
sanctions against Yugoslavia to play Spassky in a rematch in the
exclusive resort of Sveti Stefan.
After his brutal arrest — Fischer claimed he nearly lost his
life during the altercation, the reclusive chess genius was
shown a photo copy of a letter from the US Embassy in Manila
dated Dec. 11, 2003, advising him that his passport had been
revoked.
Fischer said he doubted the authenticity of the letter because
it did not contain his mailing address.
"They (US authorities) know where I could be reached because I
gave them my P.O. box number when I renewed my passport in 1997.
The mail box still exists to this day," said Fischer.
If the letter is indeed authentic, Fischer contended that he was
not properly notified in writing in the manner prescribed by
law.
"They (US authorities) not only revoked my passport, they also
denied me a chance to contest their action within 60 days
because I wasn’t properly notified," he said.
Fischer also protested the mutilation of his passport, saying
that even if he wins his appeal, he would not be able to leave
Japan.
He said he doesn’t know how long Japan keep him in jail, adding
that deportation to the US is out of the question.
"I was told that many inmates here have stayed for years," said
Fischer who is hoping that pressure from his supporters
worldwide would force Japanese authorities to let him go.
Iceland, which Fischer placed on the international map following
his historic match with Spassky, has offered the former world
champion residency and travel documents that would enable him to
leave Japan.
But the Japanese won’t let Fischer go despite Iceland’s offer.
"They (Japanese) told me that I need to get citizenship from a
third country before I be allowed to leave, but you will never
know if they change their mind," said Fischer.
Since winning the world title in 1972, Fischer largely went out
of public view and grew increasingly eccentric in his behavior.
After the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States,
Fischer went on Philippine radio to hail the attacks as
"wonderful news."
His supporters say Fischer is being singled out because of his
political views.
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