Colombian insurgents attempt to rationalize the abduction of Luis Díaz's father

Colombians have expressed anger towards the leader of the Colombian rebel group, which held the father of Liverpool footballer Luis Díaz hostage, after he attempted to justify the kidnapping. The National Liberation Army (ELN) claimed that they resorted to kidnapping for ransom due to being financially disadvantaged. These statements have raised doubts about the group's commitment to peace talks, which have been ongoing for nearly a year. The father of the footballer, Luis Manuel Díaz, and his wife were kidnapped at gunpoint on 28 October in Barrancas, a town in the northern La Guajira province. While the kidnappers abandoned Díaz's wife several hours later, her husband was held captive for 12 days before being released to a delegation from the United Nations and the Catholic Church. ELN rebel commander Antonio García argued that kidnappings for ransom did not violate the ceasefire agreement his group had signed in August. He previously labeled the targeting of the footballer's father as an "error". Critics on social media strongly condemned García's statement, with many demanding that the rebels stop abducting people and calling for a halt in the peace talks. The ELN admitted to the abduction five days after the incident and ordered the immediate release of the coach, which occurred on 9 November.