Chinese chess player WGM Ju Wenjun faced unexpected difficulties on her return home from the prestigious Gibraltar Chess Festival.
The tournament director Stuart Conquest tweeted about the issue with transit visa: “Ju Wenjun was allowed to travel to Gibraltar via London without UK transit visa. Now she cannot leave without one!”
Conquest said that he and Gibraltar authorities are doing everything possible to help the young girl but are met with the usual bureaucracy. Apparently the passport must be sent to UK and back, for 3-4 hour plane change in Heathrow.
“Chinese Embassy in London is being advised. Since UK Border Agency knew of problem, and allowed her to travel, it’s unfair to insist she obtains visa now.”, Conquest added.
We hope that Ju Wenjun will arrive home quickly and safely.
London also created problems for Ian Nepomniachtchi’s travel as Magnus Carlsen’s second.
I guess Britain wants it’s bureaucracy to stand out.
Official bureaucracy – not war, hunger, or disease – is what stifles most of human progress on earth.
Like the prisoner Red suggested during his parole hearing after serving 40 years of his life sentence (in the movie SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION), bureacracy is a convenient way for government to ensure that some folks can wear a suit or a uniform, sit in a chair, and have a job.
Ju Wenjun got through the UK en route to Gibraltar and now can’t go back through? Sometimes, rules should be tempered with plain old common sense.
She should stay and switch federation.