Luis Diaz father kidnapping: Rebel group make statement confirming conditions for release

Luis Diaz father kidnapping: Rebel group make statement confirming conditions for release

Luis Diaz father remains a hostage after the Liverpool player’s parents were kidnapped in his native Colombia last week. Negotiations remain ongoing for his release.

Family and friends of Liverpool’s Colombian forward Luis Diaz take part in a demostration to ask for the release of Diaz’s father in Barrancas, La Guajira department, Colombia on November 5, 2023.

The rebel group who are holding Luis Diaz’s father hostage in Colombia say they are making efforts with the government to ensure his safe release.

But the National Liberation Army of Colombia (ELN) say they are seeking “security guarantees” from the police forces to ensure the handover is performed peacefully, while also stating Luis Manuel Diaz is no longer at risk.

Diaz was kidnapped last Saturday along with his wife, Clienis Marulanda, in their homeland by armed men on motorcycles. Mrs Marulanda was found shaken but safe hours later but Diaz Snr has remained with the kidnappers since and a huge search and rescue mission involving well over 200 members of the police force has been underway for over a week .

Jurgen Klopp updated on Sunday that positive negotiations were underway back in Diaz’s homeland between the ELN and government and the winger came off the bench to score an emotional equaliser as the Reds were held to a 1-1 draw at Luton Town.

After the game, Diaz, who held up a message calling for his father’s return in celebration of his goal, released a statement on social media imploring the ELN to release his dad back to the family and pleaded for the intervention from external forces outside of Colombia to help facilitate it.

 

And now the ELN have suggested Mr Diaz’s release is only being delayed due to the heavy police presence that has over 200 units working around the clock in the region.

 

A statement that was signed by unit leader, Commander Jose Manuel Martinez Quiroz, read: “On November 2, we informed the country of the decision to release Mr. Luis Manuel Diaz, father of the player Luis Diaz. 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 militarised, 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 Diaz is not at risk.