The father of Liverpool FC star Luis DÃaz, who is a delegate for the Colombian rebel group National Liberation Army (ELN), is being held captive. The ELN has stated that they will release him at the earliest opportunity. Luis Manuel DÃaz and his wife, Cilenis Marulanda, were kidnapped by armed individuals on motorcycles at a gas station in Barrancas, their hometown, on Saturday.
Marulanda was later rescued, but DÃaz Sr. is still missing, with a major police and military search operation ongoing.
A demonstration took place in Barrancas, La Guajira, Colombia on October 31, 2023, where people marched in support of Luis Diaz, a Colombian football player for Liverpool, whose father was kidnapped. A search is currently ongoing for Luis Diaz's father, who was abducted on October 28, 2023 along with his wife, who has since been released. The photograph above was taken by Lismari Machado and is courtesy of AFP/Getty Images.
Hundreds of people gather in Liverpool star's hometown in Colombia, demanding the release of Luis Diaz's father. A video posted on X (formerly Twitter) by Colombian journalist Santiago Angel shows ELN delegate Juan Carlos Cuellar admitting that the guerrilla group is holding Diaz Sr. as a captive.
The Colombian government's delegation at the peace table with the guerrilla group released a statement on Thursday demanding the immediate release of Mr. Luis Manuel Díaz. They emphasized that it is entirely the responsibility of the ELN to ensure his safety and well-being. The statement also reminded the ELN that kidnapping is a criminal act that violates International Humanitarian Law. The communication, signed by Otty Patiño, head of the Government's negotiating team, stated that it is the ELN's duty to not only cease this practice but also permanently eliminate it as part of the ongoing peace process.
Gaby Diaz, the brother of Luis Diaz, informed CNN that the family has refrained from providing any official statements to the media as per the authorities' instructions. However, they intend to hold a press conference at a later date.
The town of Barrancas, located in northern Colombia and the hometown of Diaz, is currently under heightened security.
Relatives and friends marched in Barrancas to show solidarity with the DÃaz family.
Since the news of the abduction of the parents of the Colombian national team idols surfaced last Saturday, the residents of this town, with a population of around 40,000, have witnessed the presence of numerous military and police vehicles moving around.
"For our people, witnessing helicopters landing and taking off is a novel experience. Sadly, it is also a source of sadness as this land has always been known for its tranquility," remarked Cristian Almenares, a resident of Barrancas, during an interview with CNN en Español on Thursday. Currently, the largest soccer field in town, which was generously donated by Díaz, has been repurposed as an impromptu heliport for the arrival and departure of official aircraft.
Children and adults gather around, observing as over 230 men from the Police and Army conduct a search and rescue mission for Díaz Sr. This operation is taking place in a humble and previously tranquil town in the La Guajira region of northern Colombia. General William René Salamanca, the director of the Colombian Police, has stated that the most skilled officers have been assembled for this task. These individuals include jungle commandos who are trained in rescue operations in challenging environments, as well as the most proficient intelligence officers and experts from various institutions.
Salamanca added that our team consists of top-tier judicial police officers, skilled analysts, talented cartographers, meticulous evaluators of information, adept forensic photographers, and expert professionals in analyzing photographs and videos to investigate kidnapping scenes and conduct tracing operations. In the meantime, outside the Díaz family residence, a constant stream of relatives and close friends can be seen wearing white t-shirts bearing the image of Mr. Díaz Sr., as they gather to express their unwavering support.
Hundreds of people marched through Barrancas demanding DÃaz's release.
Lismari Machado/AFP/Getty Images
On the façade of the house, and in front, there are signs and posters with his face and messages demanding his release.
The citizens of Barrancas have strongly denounced the kidnapping, stating that it is detrimental to the reputation of their town.
"It is completely unnecessary. The ELN is engaging in this act against a modest family that is striving for advancement, right in the midst of negotiations," expressed Guillermo Acuña, a young resident of Barranco who claims to have been a student at Mr. Diaz's soccer academy.
Acuña is citing a statement released by the Colombian government delegation on Thursday, accusing the ELN of holding Díaz's father hostage. Gaby Díaz expressed gratitude towards the media and the people of Barrancas for their concern regarding his father's whereabouts.
Local and foreign media journalists, cameramen, and photographers are stationed outside the Díaz family residence, vigilantly awaiting any updates or announcements regarding the release of the father of Liverpool FC's stars.
