Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Rebels: We’ll keep our word & free Luis’s dad
But kidnappers claim army response is delaying them
BY HOLLIE BONE and NATALIE PENZA
THE guerrillas holding Luis Diaz’s dad hostage have pledged to “keep their word” to free him after an emotional plea from the footballer.
The left-wing group Ejercito de Liberacion Nacional (National Liberation Army) said it appreciated the torment of the Liverpool star’s family in its first official statement about the abduction.
The anti-government rebels promised four days ago that the process of securing Luis Manuel Diaz’s release had begun.
But the organisation accused Colombian ministers of complicating matters with the police and military response, and insisted it needed “security guarantees” before freeing the 58-year-old.
It said: “We are making efforts to avoid incidents with government forces.
“The area is still militarised, they are carrying out flyovers, disembarking troops, broadcasting and offering rewards as part of an intense search operation.
“This situation is not allowing for the execution of the release plan quickly and safely, where Mr Luis Manuel Diaz is not at risk. If operations continue, they will delay the release and increase the risks.
We understand the anguish of the family, to whom we say that we will keep our word to release him unilaterally, as soon as we have security guarantees for the development of the liberation operation.”
The statement by ELN followed an emotional display by the player who revealed a T-shirt demanding his dad’s release after scoring a 95th-minute equaliser for his side on Sunday.
Diaz, 26, later said: “Every second our anguish grows. My mother, my brothers and I are desperate, distressed. This suffering will only end when we have him back.” The ELN has said the abduction was a mistake but Colombian newspaper Semana alleged yesterday that the plot had been five months in the making.
My mother, brothers and I are desperate, distressed about Dad LUIS DIAZ ON ANGUISH HIS FAMILY IS SUFFERING