{"id":293354,"date":"2023-11-07T09:39:30","date_gmt":"2023-11-07T09:39:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportsloveme.com\/?p=293354"},"modified":"2023-11-07T09:39:30","modified_gmt":"2023-11-07T09:39:30","slug":"military-hunting-luis-diazs-dad-breakthrough-could-secure-release-in-hours","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportsloveme.com\/soccer\/military-hunting-luis-diazs-dad-breakthrough-could-secure-release-in-hours\/","title":{"rendered":"Military hunting Luis Diaz\u2019s dad breakthrough – could secure release in \u2018hours\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"
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    Colombian military chiefs say they have laid the ground for the release of Luis Diaz\u2019s dad \u201cin the next few hours."<\/p>\n

    They confirmed last night soldiers and police hunting for his kidnappers had been ordered out of the area the nine-day hunt had been focusing on to facilitate Operation Freedom. Around 200 men forming part of the search for Luis Manuel Diaz in the Perija Mountains on Colombia\u2019s border with Venezuela have been told to return to the town of Barrancas where he was abducted just over a week ago.<\/p>\n

    Colombia\u2019s Army said of the military manoeuvre: \u201cAll the guarantees and conditions are being offered so Mr Diaz can recover his freedom in the next few hours.\u201d Coronel Giovanni Montanez, confirming for the first time earlier reports of a strategic withdrawal of soldiers from the Perija Mountains, said: \u201cThe troops that are taking part in the search operation for Luis Manuel Diaz are being ordered to carry out a repositioning to give guarantees for the handover of this hostage.\u201d<\/p>\n

    READ MORE: Luis Diaz's father being kidnapped was 'shock' to Liverpool pals<\/b><\/p>\n

    READ MORE: Jamie Carragher is wrong \u2013 don't rule out title yet for Liverpool who just need tweaks<\/b><\/p>\n

    Coronel Giovanni Cristancho, who heads a police elite unit taking part in the search operation, added: \u201cMen who were on the ground and leading searches and conducting roadblocks have been removed from the area. They are now in Barrancas and we can state that the area in question is free of any type of offensive operation.\u201d <\/p>\n

    Reports earlier yesterday had pointed to a strategic withdrawal taking place but up until late last night there had not been any official confirmation. The withdrawal operation followed a pledge by the guerrilla group holding Luis Manuel Diaz hostage to \u201ckeep its word\u201d and free him after his footballer son issued an emotional appeal to the criminals, and a simultaneous attack on the government. <\/p>\n

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    The left-wing ELN said it understood the anguish of the Liverpool star\u2019s family in its first official statement since promising the world late last week it had started the process of securing his dad\u2019s release. But it went on to say the government response triggered by the October 28 kidnap, when it swamped areas like the Perija Mountains near Barrancas in Luis\u2019s home region of La Guajira with elite police and soldiers, made the release difficult. <\/p>\n

    The group insisted it needed \u201csecurity guarantees\u201d before freeing the 58-year-old. The statement appeared to confirm speculation the hostage-takers are concerned for their own safety if they hand Mr Diaz over. <\/p>\n

    ELN chiefs released their new pledge after the Liverpool star broke his silence about his dad\u2019s kidnap with an emotional social media message begging the group to release him promptly. The 26-year-old said, referring to his father by his nickname of Mane as he is better known: \u201c\u2018This is not Luis Diaz the player speaking. Today it is the son of Luis Manuel Diaz speaking. <\/p>\n

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    \u201cMane, my dad, is a hard-working family man, the pillar of our family and he\u2019s been kidnapped. I ask the ELN for the prompt release of my father, and 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.<\/p>\n

    \u201cI 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

    He released his statement after coming off the bench to score a last-gasp equaliser for Liverpool against Luton on Sunday afternoon.
    The ELN, which says a regional unit called the Northern War Front kidnapped Luis Manuel, responded with a statement signed by the unit\u2019s leader Commander Jose Manuel Martinez Quiroz. <\/p>\n

    It said: \u201cOn November 2, we informed the country of the decision to release Mr. Luis Manuel D\u00edaz, father of the player Luis D\u00edaz. From that date, we began the process to accomplish this as soon as possible. We are making efforts to avoid incidents with government forces. <\/p>\n

    \u201cThe 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 D\u00edaz is not at risk. If operations continue in the area, they will delay the release and increase the risks.<\/p>\n

    \u201cWe understand the anguish of the D\u00edaz Marulanda 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.\u201d Luis Diaz\u2019s mum Cilenis Marulanda was also abducted near the couple\u2019s home alongside her husband but freed shortly afterwards as the police and army hunt for their captors kicked in.<\/p>\n

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