The captors of Manuel Diaz, the father of Liverpool winger Luis Diaz, have put forth a request to the Colombian government, seeking assurances that would facilitate his release.
Diaz was kidnapped by the left-wing ELN guerrilla organization nine days ago, and although they had initially pledged to free him, they have yet to fulfill that commitment.
In a statement attributed to Commander Jose Manuel Martinez Quiroz, one of the unit leaders of the guerrilla group, they have asked for a suspension of security operations to avoid further delays. The statement conveyed their earlier announcement on November 2 regarding their intent to release Luis Manuel Diaz, the father of the football player Luis Diaz. They began the process immediately, emphasizing their efforts to prevent clashes with government forces.
The statement also highlighted that the region remains heavily militarized, with ongoing aerial surveillance, troop deployments, broadcasts, and rewards offered as part of an extensive search operation. These circumstances are hindering the expeditious and safe execution of the release plan, with a paramount focus on ensuring the safety of Mr. Luis Manuel Diaz.
The guerrilla group warned that the continuation of military operations in the area would not only delay the release but also increase the associated risks. They expressed empathy for the Diaz Marulanda family’s concerns and reassured them that they would uphold their commitment to unilaterally release him once they have received security guarantees for the liberation operation.
