A French Polynesian court has convicted two men Cyril Legayic and Mahinui Temarii for making statements aimed at inducing racial hatred.
They have been fined and Cyril Legayic, who is a leading unionist, has been given a suspended three-month jail sentence.
In April last year, the two told the Nouvelles de Tahiti that being governed by an Asian is frightening.
The comment was made after Gaston Tong Sang, whose family arrived from China more than a century ago, was elected president for a second time.
The Human Rights League took the matter to court, saying the remarks provoked hatred and racial discrimination.
