French Polynesia's president, Oscar Temaru, has sharply criticised French leaders in a deepening funding row which threatens to bankrupt his government.
This comes after the French high commissioner, Richard Didier, rejected claims that Paris had stopped a French Development Bank loan which Mr Temaru says is needed to be able to pay the public service at the end of the month.
Contradicting Mr Didier publicly, Mr Temaru has refused to meet him, which in turn has prompted Mr Didier to accuse him of showing a lack of respect.
Mr Temaru says he wonders if Mr Didier knows French Polynesia's history and what respect Charles de Gaulle showed by deciding to test nuclear weapons in the South Pacific.
He went on to say that France has never respected French Polynesians and every president of the French republic could well go before the International Court of Justice.
