The Farmers' Union of Wales today advised Welsh businesses to contact the Police if they receive menacing telephone calls from anti badger-cull organisations or individuals.
A number of businesses around Wales have been contacted in the past few days and asked for details of their policy in terms of the proposed badger cull in north Pembrokeshire, and some have complained that the calls have been quite threatening and left some individuals quite shaken.
"These individuals or groups have no right to intimidate people in this way, and if people feel they have been harassed they should call the Police on the non-emergency 101 number," said FUW president Gareth Vaughan.
"Businesses should not be bullied into holding an opinion on something when they have every right to stay neutral or keep their views private.
"Attempting to bully people into holding or revealing their opinions is something which should be stood up to. It is the type of tactic used in banana republics and there is no place for this type of threatening behaviour in our democratic society.
"People have every right to approve of, oppose or remain neutral on the badger culling issue while keeping their views private.
"Given the motives behind these calls, they are no different from trying to intimidate people into revealing who they intend to vote for in an election in order to try and sway the democratic process."
Mr Vaughan also urged people to stand strong in the face of such cowardly intimidation. "No one should bow to harassment by a small number of individuals.
"Whatever individual views people hold, the people of Wales should stand up to this type of tactic and show that they will not be bullied."
The Police have advised anyone who receives such calls to make a record of as many details as possible, including the time at which the call was made, the name of the individual who called them, and the number from which the call was made - which can be obtained by dialling 1471.
This information can then be provided in confidence to the Police by dialling 101 from any landline or mobile telephone.