Wife of Canadian Teacher Detained in Indonesia Demands Strong Action by Canadian Government

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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The wife of a Burlington man currently on trial for the alleged sexual abuse of three students at an international school in Indonesia, Tracy Bantleman, has urged the Canadian government to issue a confident statement in support of her husband, Neil Bantleman. An administrator at the Jakarta International School (JIS), Mr. Bantleman, and a teacher’s assistant, Ferdinant ‘Ferdi’ Tjiong, have been detained by Indonesian authorities since mid-July but went on trial Dec. 23.

In her remarks, Tracy stressed that “Neil needs, from his government, the same robust support and action that has been demonstrated by the U.S. and U.K. and Australian governments. He is innocent, and the Canadian government approach should reflect that fact.” Although Tracy appreciated efforts by the Canadian embassy in Indonesia, she pointed out that recent statements by the U.S. Ambassador, and the Australian, U.K. and American embassies are having more of an impact compared to that of Canada’s.

Tracy stressed that “while I understand that the behind the scenes approach the Canadian Embassy is taking is perhaps the embassy policy, the rather more robust approach of the aforementioned U.S., Australian and British embassies seems to be garnering more attention.” She stated that “most recently, the British ambassador was able to gain access to trial proceedings when Canadian consular officials have been shut out. Certainly, their approach provided more comfort to those of us who are at the centre of this injustice.”