Chess legend to appeal again

2004-08-02 07:59

Tokyo - Chess legend Bobby Fischer is to make a further appeal against his deportation from Japan, in an attempt to avoid being sent to the United States where he could face a lengthy jail term, according to one of his supporters.

The chess genius is also in contact with several unspecified countries that might offer to accept him if the appeal is successful, said John Bosnitch, head of the Committee to Free Bobby Fischer.

Fischer, 61, an outspoken master who became an American hero for wresting the world chess crown from Soviet domination during the Cold War, has been held at Tokyo's Narita airport since July 13 for using a passport which US officials said had been revoked.

His first appeal, filed within the immigration bureau at Narita, was rejected last week.

The new appeal will be lodged with Japan's justice minister later on Monday with the help of a Japanese lawyer, Bosnitch added. It was not known how long it would take for the minister to decide on the appeal.

Bosnitch could not confirm a weekend report by Belgrade radio B92 that Fischer had decided to go to Serbia-Montenegro.

But Bosnitch added: "I can tell you that Bobby Fischer likes Serbia-Montenegro and that he would be pleased to go there."

Official arrangements for Serbia-Montenegro to agree to admit Fischer had still to be made, Bosnitch said, adding: "We are not just pursuing official arrangements with Serbia-Montenegro, but we are arranging official possibilities with several countries.

"So he would have a choice. Bobby Fischer would have a choice with quite a few different countries to go to - not just one or two but quite a few ... if that country or the United Nations or somebody gives him travel documents," Bosnitch said.

Washington has sought to arrest Fischer since 1992 when he defeated Boris Spassky in the former Yugoslavia in defiance of an international embargo on the country at the time. He scooped more than $3m in prize money.

Fischer faces up to 10 years in prison in the United States if convicted.

Belgrade's ratio B92 quoted chess association head Ivanovic as saying Fischer had decided to opt for Serbia-Montenegro.

"I think we have moral obligations to help Fischer. He was punished because of our country. His decision is a compliment, not only in a chess or sports' world, for Serbia-Montenegro," it quoted him as saying.

"I believe we would not have any problems with the US administration for accepting legendary Bobby Fischer," Ivanovic said.

Bosnitch also said last week that Fischer had German nationality because his father was German, and he might apply for a German passport to avoid deportation to the United States.

An immigration bureau official at Narita said Japan would have the option of deporting him to Germany if Fischer opted for it rather than the United States as the holder of dual German citizenship.

- SAPA