THE guerrilla group in Colombia that kidnapped Luis Diaz’s father have asked the government to give ‘security guarantees’ in order for him to be released without harm.
The ELN rebel group said they understood the anguish of the Liverpool star’s family as they issued their first official statement since promising four days ago they had started the process of securing Luis Manuel Diaz’s release.
Diaz scored last night to earn Liverpool a 1-1 draw at Luton Town and made an emotional plea for his father to be freed.
But in response to that plea, the ELN accused the Colombian government of complicating matters with the response to the kidnapping nine days ago, when both the forward’s parents were taken but the mother was quick rescued.
Government has swamped areas like the Perija Mountains near Barrancas in the Diaz family’s home region of La Guajira with elite police and soldiers.
The ELN, which says a regional unit called the Northern War Front kidnapped Luis Manuel from his home town of Barrancas last Saturday, have issued a statement signed by the unit’s leader, Commander Jose Manuel Martinez Quiroz.
“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 statement, issued overnight, says.
“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 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.”
The statement from ELN followed last night’s plea by Diaz after he scored a stoppage time equaliser and lifted his shirt to reveal a message of ‘Freedom for papa’ before releasing a statement of his own.
“Here’s not the player speaking. Today’s Lucho Díaz, the son of Luís Manuel Díaz. Mane, my dad, hard working man, family pillar… he’s now kidnapped. I ask ELN to release my father as soon as possible,” he said.
“I also ask the international associations to work on that in order to guarantee his freedom. Every second, every minute we’re more worried. We’ve no words to describe our family’s terrible feelings, and it will be the same as long as he’s not back at home.”
