CAFOD welcomes release of Luis Diaz and role of Catholic Church partners

Monsignor Hector Fabio Henao (left) with Luis Manuel Díaz (centre)

Source: CAFOD

The father of Liverpool footballer Luis Diaz has been freed by his captors in Colombia - almost two weeks after being kidnapped.

Luis Manuel Diaz was released by guerrillas from the National Liberation Army (ELN), according to the Colombian FA.

Diaz's parents were abducted in Colombia by armed men on 28 October. His mother was rescued hours later, but his father remained missing as authorities desperately searched for him.

Ulrike Beck, CAFOD's Colombia Programme Officer, said: "We are delighted to see the safe release of Liverpool FC's Luis Díaz's father in Colombia. Luis Manuel Díaz was handed over to UN and Catholic Church officials, which included CAFOD's long-standing partner, Monsignor Héctor Fabio Henao.

"The Catholic Church has played a key role in peace negotiations in Colombia and is one of the four stakeholders of the current ceasefire between the ELN armed group and the government which has been in place since August (alongside the Colombian Government, ELN and UN).

"We are proud to support Mgr Héctor Fabio Henao, who is respected and renowned in Colombia and around the world. He has worked for decades on promoting peace, human rights and an end to the armed conflict. In December 2003 he led talks resulting in the release of British hostage Mark Henderson and six other foreign tourists held by ELN guerrillas."