In his capacity as French Polynesia's senator, Gaston Flosse has written to President Nicolas Sarkozy to ask for a French condemnation of insulting remarks by a top French official.
Last month, the high commissioner, Adolphe Colrat, in Papeete told one of his employees he should to see a veterinarian after the man asked to see a doctor because of a sore back.
Mr Colrat says the remark was meant to be ironic but a complaint has been lodged that has also been endorsed by the French Polynesian Human Rights League.
Mr Flosse says the French government's silence is a sign of support for the high commissioner and a refusal to admit that the comment was insulting.
He says such a statement would be unacceptable in France.