Ghent-based photojournalist Simon Clément is back in Belgium after an extended three-month stay in India. He ended up in jail in early March, was then released on bail but not allowed to leave the country. Last week a judge ruled that Clément had done nothing wrong. Friends and family were waiting for him at the airport this morning.
Flemish photojournalist Simon Clément back in Belgium after stint in Indian prison (VIDEO)
Colin Clapson
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The young photojournalist is tired after the long journey and several stressful weeks. But he remains combative. "I don't regret anything, I would do it all again immediately. It's important to keep paying attention to the forgotten war in Myanmar, the dire conditions in Indian prisons and the press freedom that is so under pressure there," he said earlier.
Picked up on way back from neighbouring Myanmar
Exactly three months ago, a foreign assignment took an unexpected turn. Clément had travelled from India to neighbouring Myanmar to cover the civil war there as a photojournalist. When he wanted to cross the border again on 5 March, things went wrong. Indian authorities stopped him, claiming he was carrying the wrong travel documents. In his luggage, they found empty bullet casings that he says he took with him as souvenirs.
Exoneration on all charges
The investigation dragged on for weeks. Only last week the verdict from an Indian judge fell. The charge regarding the empty bullet casings was dismissed almost immediately. Clément's Indian lawyers were able to show that the visa case too was not based on anything and he was acquitted. Clément could, finally, go home. He landed at Zaventem around 7.30 this morning.
Clément has no intention of quitting his efforts as a photo journalist. Already in India he promised to publish an account of his stay in prison. Photos from his trip to Myanmar will also appear later. Clément is a contributor to news website Apache.
