Spouse glad U.S. will
try suspect in wife’s deathA Colombian rebel is extradited
to America to face murder charges
The husband of a Hawaii woman, who was murdered while on a cultural education mission to Colombia, said he is happy that the United States is helping to bring the killers to justice.
"It's pretty unbelievable and I'm happy it's a reality," said John Livingstone, the husband of the late Lahe'enae Gay, of the Big Island. "It's been four years."
A Colombian rebel suspected in the murders of three Americans, including Gay, was flown under heavy security to the United States yesterday -- the first guerrilla extradited by Colombia to face U.S. justice.
Nelson Vargas Rueda, a member of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, has been accused in the 1999 execution-style murders of Terence Freitas, 24, of Los Angeles; Ingrid Washinawatok, 41, of New York City; and Gay, 39, of Pahoa.
The Americans were in Colombia to help set up a school system for the 5,000-member U'wa Indian tribe, in the eastern plains bordering Venezuela.
Rebels kidnapped them in February 1999, and later shot them to death. Their bodies were found across the border in Venezuela.
Livingstone said the loss of Gay is still fresh in his mind.
"It's something that's with you every day," he said.
Ali El-Issa, the husband of Washinawatok, said he was happy because there seems to be some movement toward justice.
El-Issa said he was not satisfied with the FARC's explanation that the killings were a mistake, and has been unhappy with the length of time it has taken to bring the killers to justice. He said that under the circumstances, he was happy to see the United States extradite the alleged killer.
"There was no choice but to support this choice," said El-Issa, who has an 18-year-old son.
During her funeral in Hilo, Gay was remembered by her family and friends as a Hawaiian activist and committed preservationist of native cultures who had musical and dance talent and a voracious appetite for knowledge.
Gay founded the Pacific Cultural Conservancy International in 1989 in Pahoa.
Police helicopters transported Vargas from jail to Bogota's international airport, where FBI agents took him into custody for the flight, the police said.
The U.S. Justice Department said Vargas was bound for Miami, where he would probably make a court appearance today.
Vargas is one of six members of the FARC, as the rebel group is known by its Spanish acronym, indicted in April 2002 in federal court in Washington, D.C., for the murders.
The FARC has admitted its fighters killed the Americans, and blamed a rogue lower-level commander, saying he would be punished by the insurgent group.
The United States has listed the FARC as an international terrorist organization and has provided Colombia with millions of dollars, mostly military aid, to fight the guerrillas.
The United States has also asked for the extradition of several other FARC rebels, including top leaders, in connection with drug trafficking cases.