Outrage and Doubts as Colombian Rebels Attempt to Justify Kidnapping for Ransom

Colombians have expressed their anger and disbelief after the leader of the Colombian rebels, who held the father of Liverpool footballer Luis Díaz hostage, tried to defend the act of kidnapping. The National Liberation Army (ELN) stated that they resorted to this criminal activity because of their financial struggles. This justification has raised concerns about the group’s commitment to the ongoing peace talks. The kidnapping took place in Barrancas, in the northern La Guajira province, where Luis Díaz’s parents were taken by force from their home. While Luis Díaz’s mother was released unharmed a few hours later, his father was held captive for 12 long days. Eventually, he was released through the intervention of a delegation consisting of United Nations and Catholic Church officials. ELN rebel commander Antonio García has remained steadfast in the group’s stance on kidnappings, claiming that it does not violate the ceasefire agreement they had signed. According to him, the ELN needs to resort to such actions to finance their operations as they are a “poor organization” and do not engage in drug smuggling. Instead, he argues that the group is instructed to carry out military operations to raise funds. García further accuses the Colombian government of not providing a solution for the ELN’s financing and blames them for attempting to financially strangle the group. The government has refrained from publicly responding to García’s statement, but the country is outraged and sees it as a cynical and infamous attempt to justify criminal activities. Social media users have criticized the group, calling on them to find legitimate ways to sustain themselves and cease extorting and kidnapping innocent Colombians. Many demand a halt to the peace talks until the ELN agrees to end their practice of abducting individuals. It took five days for the rebels to acknowledge their involvement in the kidnapping, and even though they ordered Luis Díaz’s immediate release, he was not freed until several more days had passed. The incident has highlighted the urgent need for a resolution to the ongoing conflict in Colombia and has undermined public trust in the ELN’s commitment to the peace process.