Luis Díaz's Family Expresses Gratitude and Relief as Father is Released, Says Cousin to CNN
Liverpool soccer star Luis Díaz's family expresses immense relief and gratitude for the nationwide support after his father's release by ELN guerrilla group A heartwarming tale of reunion and resilience
The family of Liverpool soccer star Luis DÃaz expressed their relief and gratitude for the nation's support after his father was released by the National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrilla group. DÃaz Sr. was abducted along with his wife on October 28 in his hometown of Barrancas, northeastern Colombia. While his wife was rescued that same day, DÃaz Sr. was handed over to a commission consisting of UN personnel and Catholic priests on Thursday in the nearby city of Valledupar, just under two weeks later.
Luis Díaz received a warm welcome from his relatives and friends at the Díaz family residence in Barrancas a couple of hours later. Jose Brito Díaz, a cousin of Luis Díaz, spoke to CNN over the phone from Barrancas, expressing the joyous atmosphere that spread across the entire family and the community.
We express sincere gratitude for the support we received from the entire nation and the people of Barrancas. We are grateful to God for coming to our aid during the crucial moment," Brito Díaz expressed.
When discussing his uncle's condition and the difficult situation he endured in the past two weeks, Díaz stated, "Naturally, he is extremely exhausted. Although he is in good health, he now requires ample rest. He was constantly on the move, traversing forests and uneven terrain with the guerrillas. We are relieved to have him back with us and hope that he can find peace in his recovery."
Brito Díaz expressed immense relief when his uncle was brought to the UN offices in Valledupar. He mentioned that his cousin, who played in Liverpool's 3-2 Europa League loss against Toulouse FC on the same day, kept track of the operation through a video call from Toulouse, France.
DÃaz Sr. was welcomed back in his hometown on Thursday.
Ricardo Maldonado Rozo/EFE/EFE
The abduction and subsequent release of Díaz Sr. created a renewed focus on kidnappings in Colombia. Shortly after his release, the Colombian Ombudsman's office, responsible for safeguarding civil and human rights, issued a statement urging an end to ransom kidnappings in the country. They highlighted that at least 79 Colombians have been kidnapped so far this year.
This week, the ELN central command admitted that the abduction of the father of one of Colombia's renowned soccer stars was "an error." However, the group seemed to justify the use of ransom kidnappings to fund their ongoing armed resistance. Despite signing a ceasefire with the Colombian government in August, this long-standing guerrilla group, which is one of the country's oldest and largest, continues to pursue armed insurgency nationwide.
On Friday, the Colombian Football Federation announced that DÃaz had been selected to represent the national team in its upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Brazil and Paraguay.
