Luis Diaz father kidnapping: Rebel group make statement confirming his dead 

Luis Diaz father kidnapping: Rebel group make statement confirming his dead

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.

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ByPaul GorstLiverpool FC correspondent
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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.

Mr Diaz was kidnapped last Saturday along with his wife, Clienis Marulanda, in their homeland by armed men on motorcycles.

READ MORE: What gutted Luton captain did at final whistle shows truth about Liverpool goal

READ MORE: Luis Diaz breaks silence on father’s kidnapping with emotional statement

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.

“If operations continue in the area, they will delay the release and increase the risks. We understand the anguish of the Diaz-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 ELN were confirmed as the organisation responsible for taking Diaz Snr on Thursday by the Colombian government. They are the South American nation’s last active rebel group and agreed a truce in early July after almost 60 years of conflict before a ceasefire came into effect in August. However, the kidnapping of Diaz’s family has brought instability to the peace and their actions were criticised publicly by President Gustavo Petro last week.

Diaz’s social media statement read: “Today the footballer is not talking to you, today Lucho Díaz, the son of Luis Manuel Diaz, is talking to you. Manuel, my dad, is a tireless worker, our pillar in the family and he is kidnapped. I ask the ELN for the prompt release of my father, and I ask international organisations to intervene for his freedom.

“Every second, every minute our anguish grows. My mother, my brothers and I are desperate, distressed and without words to describe what we are feeling.

“This suffering will only end when we get him back home. I ask you to release him immediately, respecting his integrity and ending this as soon as possible. In the name of love and compassion, we ask that you reconsider your actions and allow us to take him back.

“I thank Colombians and the international community for the support received. Thank you for so many expressions of affection and solidarity in this difficult time that we, and many families, in my country are experiencing.”

The search has involved around 230 elite police and army commandos and also included a Black Hawk helicopter and the use of an airplane with heat-detection sensors due to fears the kidnappers had tried to bundle their hostage into nearby Venezuela through the mountainous regions that separates the countries.

The authorities carried out a sweep between the municipalities of Barrancas and Fonseca in the vicinity of the Perija mountain range.

Given Diaz’s popularity and profile in his homeland, the director of the Colombian police General William Salamanca immediately took charge of the situation after the kidnapping, which took place in the Los Olivos neighbourhood of Barrancas, in Guajira.

Speaking from Washington last week during an official visit to the United States, President Petro said: “The ELN’s authorship means the ELN today is responsible for the life of the father of Luis Diaz.

“It has committed an act that contravenes the peace process. I have to express my most profound rejection, not only for having kidnapped Luis’ dad, but because in the ensuing developments, they have not been able to free him.

“There is an expressed wish on the part of the ELN leaders to free him as soon as possible. But the hours are passing, and as this goes on in time, the situation in which Mr Diaz is in becomes very dangerous.”

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Mason Greenwood is rediscovering his scoring touch. (Image: Getty)

The 22-year-old scored twice in Getafe’s 12-0 win against Tardienta in the Copa del Rey last week, netting three goals in his last four games.

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