They took their place behind a piece of card bearing their name in orderly fashion, a sharp click signaling an end to their moment in front of the camera.

For residents of Sukadamai village, Lhueng Bata district in Banda Aceh, it marked a new chapter in their lives from the ugly days of the past – and some saw the funny side of things. "Heh, it looks like a criminal, right?" joked Muhammad, 30, as he posed for the digital camera.

Muhammad and his friends lived through the military emergency situation in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, when obtaining an ID card was a long, stressful process requiring the provision of many supporting documents. "Now it's easy, just by showing our family card and a copy of the old ID card. Then, there is the photo session at no cost," he said.

In accordance with planned regional elections under the Aceh governance bill, the locals' old "red-and-white" cards – which signified their Acehnese identity and were roundly criticized as discriminatory – are being replaced.

"The ordinary ID cards before the strife were preferable. The red-and-white cards differentiated Acehnese from other Indonesian citizens," said Siti Habsah, 38, another resident.

Cut Husna, 50, of the Banda Aceh population mobility and transmigration agency, said the replacement of cards began March 8 and would continue until March 31.

Former members of the Free Aceh Movement, who do not have ID cards, and people whose cards were lost during the 2004 tsunami are also eligible for the cards. "Those having no family cards can simply report to their respective village heads," Cut Husna said.

The number of Banda Aceh residents receiving the cards may reach 143,000 or more due to the shifting population, she said.