UNDER the overcast skies of Putra Jaya, the man was looking upwards. He was looking at tapered domes on the mosques and tall buildings in downtown Kuala Lumpur. He would occasionally sit and allow his eyes to gaze from behind the large lenses in his glasses.

That day he was smartly dressed: a gray suit, maroon tie, and shiny black shoes. "It's a beautiful place," he said. "Aceh must be like this in the future," I said, slipping in a comment. He smiled