Liverpool striker Luis Díaz and his father are reunited for the 1st time after kidnapping

A: Luis Díaz is a Liverpool soccer player. His father, Luis Manuel Díaz Jiménez, was kidnapped by a guerrilla group in northern Colombia in late October but was released last week, leading to their emotional reunion.

A: Initially, it was unclear who carried out the abduction. However, Colombia’s government later revealed that a unit of the National Liberation Army (ELN) was responsible for the kidnapping.

A: No, Luis Díaz’s parents were both kidnapped from a gas station. His mother, Cilenis Marulanda, was rescued within hours by the police. However, Luis Díaz’s father remained in captivity until his recent release.

A: The guerrilla group, ELN, initially kidnapped Díaz’s father during a period of peace negotiations between Colombia’s government and the group. The group later acknowledged it was a mistake and ordered his release.

A: According to Colombia’s Ombudsman’s Office, between January 2022 and September 2023, armed groups conducted 160 kidnappings and 121 releases.

A: Following Luis Díaz’s father’s release, the government’s peace talks delegation demanded that the ELN immediately free anyone it still holds in captivity and cease its practice of kidnappings. They emphasized that trading with human beings, even in an armed conflict, is ethically untenable.