A court in Monywa on Thursday sentenced Myint Aung, the joint-secretary of the Save Latpadaung Mountain Committee (SLMC), to one year in prison and hard labor for organizing a protest without permission.

In addition to Myint Aung’s sentence, two fellow activists were fined 30,000 kyat (US$32) for their part in the campaign against a Chinese-backed copper mine project in the area, which they say has led to the displacement of numerous farmers without adequate compensation, and has caused environmental damage.

Myint Aung, who is in his 60s, coordinated with SLMC chairman Chit Khin to organize protests at the site of the copper mine every Sunday beginning in May 2012 until the group were attacked brutally by riot police in November last year.

Chit Khin told Mizzima he saw the verdict against Myint Aung as unfair because all the protests—which included the participation of dozens of Buddhist monks—were peaceful.