The guerrilla faction detaining Luis Diaz’s father has reaffirmed their commitment to releasing him after the footballer made a heartfelt plea following his last-minute equalizer against Luton on Sunday.
The ELN, a left-wing group, empathized with the distress of Diaz’s family in their first official statement since they promised four days ago to initiate the process of securing the release of Luis Manuel Diaz. However, they accused the government of complicating matters by responding vigorously to the abduction nine days ago, deploying elite police and soldiers to areas like the Perija Mountains near Barrancas, in Luis’s home region of La Guajira.
The group insisted on receiving “security guarantees” before freeing the 58-year-old hostage, expressing concerns about their own safety should they release Mr. Diaz.
Following the emotional social media message from the Liverpool star pleading for his father’s release, the ELN leaders released a new statement. Luis Diaz, in his impassioned message, referred to his father as Mane and appealed to the ELN to promptly release him, seeking international organizations’ support for his father’s freedom. He described his father as a hardworking family man and the bedrock of their family.
The ELN, specifically a regional unit known as the Northern War Front, responded through a statement signed by their leader, Commander Jose Manuel Martinez Quiroz. They confirmed their decision to release Luis Manuel Díaz and mentioned their ongoing efforts to prevent confrontations with government forces in the still-militarized area, highlighting intense search operations and security measures.
The footballer’s heartfelt plea and the subsequent response from the guerrilla group reflect the ongoing negotiations and concerns surrounding the safe release of Luis Diaz’s father.