The ELN rebels are demanding “security guarantees” from the Columbian government before releasing Luis Diaz’s father. In a fresh statement on Monday, the ELN Group said that the military and police search will delay the release of Luis Diaz’s father and increase the danger.
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Luis Manuel Diaz was kidnapped at gunpoint along with his wife in Barrancas, Colombia on 28 October. His mother was abandoned in a car after the kidnapping as police closed in, but his father was taken hostage.
Liverpool player Diaz has called on the kidnappers to free his father immediately and end a “painful wait”.
Diaz, a Colombia international, scored in the stoppage time of Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Luton Town in his first appearance since the abduction of his parents. Diaz made an appeal to release his father after scoring the goal.
ELN group statement
The ELN on Monday reiterated its intention to release Diaz’s father “as soon as possible”.
In a statement signed by commander Jose Manuel Martinez Quiroz, the rebel group said, “On November 2, we informed the country of the decision to release Mr. Luis Manuel Díaz, father of the player Luis Díaz. From that date, we began the process to accomplish this as soon as possible. We are making efforts to avoid incidents with government forces.”
“The area is still militarized, they are carrying out flyovers, disembarking troops, broadcasting and offering rewards as part of an intense search operation. This situation is not allowing for the execution of the release plan quickly and safely, where Mr Luis Manuel Díaz is not at risk.
“If operations continue in the area, they will delay the release and increase the risks. We understand the anguish of the Díaz Marulanda family, to whom we say that we will keep our word to release him unilaterally, as soon as we have security guarantees for the development of the liberation operation.”
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