CASE IN BOLIVIA AGAINST MR. ELŐD TÓÁSÓ HUNGARIAN CITIZEN ACCUSED OF PREPARING AN ATTEMPT AGAINST THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF BOLIVIA

A few days ago the Media, all over the World, informed that during a Police raid and subsequent shooting in the Hotel Las Americas in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, two men were arrested and three other nem were killed by the Bolivian Police.

The Bolivian authorities later informed that several documents were found in the rooms of these men - also accused of being mercenaries - allegedly implicating them in the preparation of an attempt to murder H. E. The President of the Republic of Bolivia Mr. Evo Morales.

One of the men arrested by the Bolivian Police was Mr. Előd Tóásó, an Hungarian Citizen.

Soon after these events the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of our Sovereign Order and State - the Federation of Autonomous Priories of the Sovereign Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, Knights of Malta (KMFAP), was request, by the Family of Mr Előd Tóásó to intervene officially in this case, due to the fact that Hungary has no Diplomatic Representation in Bolivia.  Our Ministry of Foreign Affairs received from the family of Mr EElőd Tóásó a written Mandate to act on their behalf in this case.

His Excellency the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of our Government (KMFAP) made very clear to all parts involved and to the International Press that our Sovereign Order and State severely condemns all types of violence and terrorism, as well as any attempt against the Human Life.

Furthermore our Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation made also very clear that it is not the intention of our Government to interfere with, or to obstruct the Bolivian Justice and that our Sovereign Order and State has no political involvement and no political motivations whatsoever in the present case, however, since our main mission in the World is an Humanitarian mission, we have accepted the Mandate of this family in distress and  started at once international efforts and contacts in order to guarantee to Mr Előd Tóásó - actually confined to a high security prison in La Paz, Bolivia - a professional and fair legal defense, and the protection of all of his legal rights and of the presumption of his innocence until a verdict is given by a Court of Law, besides the guarantee of the protection of his Human Rights.

Thanks to the international efforts and contacts of our Ministry of Foreign Affairs a well-known and reputed Bolivian law firm was contacted and hired for the legal defense of Mr. Előd Tóásó, who has already visited him in prison and is collecting all the necessary elements to prepare his defense.

His Most Eminent Highness the Grand Master of the Federation of Autonomous Priories of the Sovereign Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, Knight of Malta, on behalf of His Government, reiterates to the Bolivian authorities His full respect for the Bolivian Sovereignty, His intention of having no involvement in the Bolivian internal political affairs,  His trust in the Bolivian Justice, and also His confidence that the Legal and Human Rights of Mr. Előd Tóásó will be respected and defended.

Magisterial House on the 22nd of April 2009