Father of Luis Díaz released by Colombian guerrilla group
Luis Manuel Díaz's father and his wife were abducted by armed men on motorcycles at a gas station in their hometown The recent release of the couple has triggered various reactions
The father of Liverpool football sensation Luis DÃaz, who was abducted by a Colombian guerrilla organization in the previous month, was freed on Thursday and handed over to representatives of the United Nations and the Catholic Church in Valledupar, Colombia, as confirmed by Colombias Episcopal Conference.
"We express our gratitude to God for the liberation of Mr. Luis DÃaz!" the conference shared on X (formerly known as Twitter).
Mons. Francisco Ceballos, bishop of Riohacha, and Mons. Héctor Henao, delegate for Church-State relations, were part of the humanitarian commission responsible for facilitating the release of Díaz's father. They accompanied him aboard a helicopter that retrieved him from a wooded area along the Colombian border with Venezuela.
Luis Manuel Díaz and his wife, Cilenis Marulanda, were abducted by armed individuals from the National Liberation Army (ELN) while at a gas station in Barrancas, their hometown in northern Colombia, on October 28. Although Marulanda was successfully rescued on the same day, an extensive search operation involving both the police and military remained underway to locate Díaz Sr.
Diaz showcased his skills and found the net for Liverpool on Sunday. Subsequently, he fervently appealed for the liberation of his father post the Premier League game versus Luton Town.
On Tuesday, the ELN stated that the Colombian military activities were impeding the freedom of Diaz Sr. In a released statement, the guerrilla group expressed their intention to prevent any altercations with the official forces, alluding to the existence of military units in an undisclosed location.
Reactions to the release
Soon after the news of his fathers release, DÃaz was named in the starting lineup for Liverpools Europa League match against Toulouse on Thursday night in France.
"We express our joy upon hearing the news of the safe return of Luis Díaz's father and extend our gratitude to everyone who played a role in ensuring his release," stated the club.
The release of Díaz's father was welcomed by both the Colombian government's Peace Delegation and the ELN.
On Thursday, the delegation expressed their gratitude to the police and military, as well as the United Nations verification mission in Colombia and the Episcopal conference, for their assistance in facilitating the release of Díaz Sr. The statement from the delegation conveyed their hope for his speedy recovery from the distress caused by an unfortunate incident that never should have happened.
Kidnapping is a heinous crime that grossly violates human dignity, inflicts immense suffering upon families and communities, and undermines the kidnapped individual's most personal and sacred aspect of humanity.
The delegation further emphasized that the kidnapping has significantly jeopardized the ongoing peace negotiations with the ELN, placing them in a critical state. They assert that during the upcoming meeting, they will strongly insist on the prompt and secure release of all present ELN hostages, ensuring their safety and dignity.
Colombias Ombudsman Carlos Camargo Assis reiterated the call for the ELN and other illegal armed groups to release all current kidnapping victims in the country. He emphasized that there have been 79 kidnappings this year. The Colombia Football Federation expressed gratitude to the forces involved in securing the release of Luis Manuel Díaz, the father of their player Luis Díaz.
CNNs Abel Alvarado contributed to this report.
