Liverpool star Luis Diaz’s father ‘to be released within hours’
Conversations between the National Liberation Army (ELN) and the Colombian government are apparently continuing, with Luis Diaz’s father expected to be freed ‘within hours’.
The government declared on Thursday that the kidnapping of Diaz’s parents over the weekend had been carried out by the ELN.
According to the Colombian newspaper El Tiempo, the ELN has assured authorities that Diaz’s father will be freed in the coming hours.
According to reports, ELN militants told the Colombian publication Semana that they were not aware that Diaz’s parents had been abducted by the group.
Reports state that the group has promised to demand the release of Luis Manuel Diaz.
The 26-year-old football player has been staying in England for “security reasons” since his mother, Cilenis Marulanda, and father, Luis Manuel Diaz (above), were abducted in Colombia last week. The Colombian government has released a significant update in their search for Diaz’s father.
Five days after the kidnapping on October 28, Diaz’s father is still missing, but his mother Cilenis Marulanda was freed a few hours later.
The government’s representative in the negotiations, Otty Patino, confirmed that they were told the ELN was behind the kidnapping.
Patino demanded in a statement that Diaz’s father be freed.
“We have officially learned today that an ELN unit was responsible for the kidnapping that occurred on October 28 in Barrancas, department of La Guajira. The victims of this kidnapping were Luis Manuel Díaz and Cilenis Marulanda, who are the parents of the soccer player Luis Fernando,” the statement said.
The player’s father has been abducted for five days, despite the fact that Mrs. Marulanda was freed a short while after.
As the National Government’s delegation to the peace negotiations with the ELN, we would like to convey our deepest sympathies to Luis Díaz, his family, the nation, and the millions of fans of the footballer around the globe.
“We demand the immediate release of Mr. Luis Manuel Diaz from the ELN and remind them that it is entirely their responsibility to ensure his integrity and safety.”
We remind the ELN that kidnapping is illegal and against international humanitarian law, and that it is their responsibility to not only cease abduction but also to completely eradicate it in order to further the current peace process.
“Our delegation will present this case to the current Monitoring and Verification Mechanism as part of the development of the Ceasefire agreement, and will take all necessary steps to achieve Mr. Díaz’s immediate release while guaranteeing his life and integrity.”
Four armed guys on motorcycles abducted Diaz’s parents from the Colombian streets last week.
The Liverpool player was made aware of the incident just prior to his team’s Sunday 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at Anfield.
The location of his father Luis Manuel is still unknown, despite the fact that his mother Cilenis Marulanda was later set free after being abducted.
To ensure his safe return, the military and law enforcement agencies of Colombia have been cooperating.
On Tuesday, Diaz used social media to call on people to participate in a march demanding his father’s safe release.
The Colombian government’s declaration regarding the father of Luis Diaz
At the Peace Dialogue Table with the National Liberation Army (ELN), the National Government delegation informs the public that:
1. Today, we formally discovered that an ELN unit was responsible for the October 28 kidnapping that took place in Barrancas, department of La Guajira, and involved Luis Manuel Díaz and Cilenis Marulanda, the mother and father of soccer player Luis Fernando.
The player’s father has been abducted for five days, despite the fact that Mrs. Marulanda was freed a few hours later.
2. We, the National Government’s delegation to the peace negotiations with the ELN, hereby declare our unwavering support with the player’s millions of fans worldwide, his family, the entire nation, and Luis Díaz.
3. We demand that Mr. Luis Manuel Diaz be freed immediately by the ELN and remind them that it is entirely their obligation to ensure his integrity and safety.
4. We remind the ELN that kidnapping is illegal and against international humanitarian law. As the current peace process progresses, it is their responsibility to not only cease abduction but also to completely eradicate it.
5. Our delegation will bring this situation before the existing Monitoring and Verification Mechanism as part of the formulation of the Ceasefire Accord, and will take all necessary steps to secure Mr. Díaz’s immediate release while guaranteeing his life and integrity.
Head of the national government delegation holding peace negotiations with the ELN, Otty Patino
The caption for the Instagram photo of his father said, “Free him now,” and it called the “whole community” to “bring your candle to light the light of hope.”
On Tuesday night, hundreds of people joined his grandfather Alfonso and mother Cilenis on the streets of Barrancas to demand an end to the kidnapping.
Two of the four guys involved in the kidnapping have been recognized by the authorities, it was reported earlier this week.
On Wednesday, additional information about the abduction surfaced. According to a report by the Colombian publication Semana, Diaz’s parents were purchasing watermelons when they were abducted by the four armed guys.
Since Diaz’s mother was released, the police have offered a reward for information of 200 million Colombian pesos, or around £40,000.
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