Liverpool star Luis Diaz’s family has demanded the kidnappers holding his father hostage offer proof he is alive as concern about their failure to release him grows.
The left-wing ELN insurgent group have thus far failed to make good on its promise to free Luis Manuel Diaz, despite saying at the end of last week it was working on liberating him as soon as possible. The group also accused the Colombian government of hindering them by maintaining a high military and police presence in the Perija Mountains, where father-of-four Luis Manuel is thought to be held.
But despite the government responding by ordering the withdrawal of troops and elite cops to Barrancas where the father-of-four was kidnapped on October 28, the 11-day ordeal continues. The missing man’s brother Gabi admitted the family are worried and has begged the ELN to offer proof the 58-year-old is alive.
He said: “What we would most like is to have that proof by seeing him and knowing what situation our brother, our relative, our papa, our son is in. My father is here and wants to see his son.” Luis Alfonso Diaz, the footballer’s cousin, said.
“We are asking the ELN to send us proof of how Luis Manuel is now so we can have some peace of mind.”
The demands follow Diaz’s emotional social media message late on Sunday, after he came off the bench to score a last-gasp equaliser for the Reds against Luton and lifted up his shirt to reveal the message: “Freedom for Papa” on the T-shirt underneath.
The 26-year-old said, referring to his father by his nickname of Mane as he is better known: “This is not Luis Diaz the player speaking. Today it is the son of Luis Manuel Diaz speaking. Mane, my dad, is a hard-working family man, the pillar of our family and he’s been kidnapped”.
“I ask the ELN for the prompt release of my father. I ask international organisations to work together for his freedom. Every second, every minute, our anguish grows. My mother, my brothers and I are desperate, distressed and without words to describe what we are feeling. This suffering will only end when we have him back home”.
“I beg you to release him immediately, respecting his integrity and ending this painful wait as soon as possible. In the name of love and compassion, we ask you to reconsider your actions and allow us to have him back. I thank Colombians and the international community for the support received, thank you for so many demonstrations of affection and solidarity in this difficult time that many families in my country find themselves experiencing.”
It is yet to be confirmed whether the forward will be involved when Liverpool travel to France to play Toulouse in the Europa League on Thursday. Manager Jurgen Klopp has praised the character of the 26-year-old, and revealed he voluntarily made himself available for first team selection.