Sir Michael Somare's opposition grouping in Papua New Guinea is complaining of what it calls intense intimidation by the O'Neill government.
The rival grouping expects police intimidation of members to get worse after contempt proceedings were filed this week against Prime Minister Peter O'Neill and his cabinet among others.
They are accused of defying December's Supreme Court ruling that Sir Michael was unlawfully removed from office in August.
Former Chief Justice and an MP in the Somare faction Sir Arnold Amet says he has not been intimidated himself lately but others have experienced ongoing harrassment, including threats of arrest.
"In the court proceedings that are running, the police presence at the court houses has been overly excessive and lawyers and principal parties to these proceedings have been harrassed and intimidated by the armed police presence."
