HLUTTAW SESSIONS:- Pyidaungsu Hluttaw: Parliament to vote on tying referendum to general election: "Nay Pyi Taw, 21 July — The Pyidaungsu Hluttaw will vote on whether to suspend a constitutional referendum scheduled to coincide with the 8 November general election, the Speaker of the joint assembly said Tuesday. At the parliamentary meeting, Speaker Thura U Shwe Mann relayed a letter from the Chairman of the Union Election Commission recommending the suspension of the referendum on an amendment to Section 59 (d) changing the word ?military” to ?defence” in a clause stipulating that a president must be ?well acquainted with the political, administrative, economic and military affairs of the Union.” In the letter, the Union Election Commission chairman said holding the referendum along with the upcoming general elections would save time and money. However, a referendum should be held separately and requires more than K4,729 million to complete the task, according to the Speaker. During a parliamentary meeting on 25 June, out of six proposed changes to the constitution, the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw voted in favour of only one, the amendment to Section 59 (d). Speaker Thura U Shwe Mann previously suggested holding the referendum at the same time as to protect public property and funds. The settlement of debt then increased from 0.5 percent to 9 percent, leaving the total bad debt remaining at K29.422 billion. The total amount of debts from the 10 highest debtors including top debtor U Min Thein (Thone Pwint Hsaing), son of U Maung Maung Thein, with K6.755 billion debt, has already declined to K25.592 billion, of which the highest single debt accounts for K6.756 billion and the lowest K484.844 million. the general election to reduce costs."...Pyithu Hluttaw: Term ?political prisoner? unconstitutional: ministry: "Nay Pyi Taw, 21 July — The term ?political prisoner” contravenes the State Constitution, which grants all prisoners the same legal status, and will not be officially used, Deputy Minister for Home Affairs Brig-Gen Kyaw Kyaw Tun told the Pyithu Hluttaw on Tuesday. The deputy minister said the government has already released a total of 70,904 prisoners held on a variety of charges, including 354 dissidents, under the presidential amnesty. Regarding construction of infrastructure in Sagaing Region, Deputy Minister for Construction U Soe Tint said the Thetkalkyin-Phaungpyin- Homelin-Khamti road will be upgraded at a cost of roughly K3 billion. Deputy Governor of the Myanmar Central Bank Daw Khin Saw Oo submitted the Bill on Banks and Financial Institutions before the Bill Committee read out its findings on the bill. Bills amending laws on electing the President and Vice President, as well as foreign currency management, were submitted by the Hluttaw Rights Committee for approval of the parliament."...Amyotha Hluttaw: Defence Ministry to release confiscated farmlands to original owners: "Nay Pyi Taw, 21 July — Deputy Minister for Defence Maj-Gen Kyaw Nyunt granted 18.86 acres of farmlands and croplands confiscated by No 41st Infantry Regiment will be released to eight original owners as the lands are clear from security line of the regiment at the Tuesday?s session of Amyotha Hluttaw. U Sai San Min of Shan State Constituency No 3 asked the plan to release confiscated lands of farmers used in construction of military units in Lashio. U Paw Lyan Lwin of Chin State constituency No 9 discussed enactment of laws for legal protection of prisoners with regard to the jails bill. It needs to allow prisoners to have rights of medical treatment and rights of worship on respective religions for their mental improvement. U Aung Kyi Nyunt of Magway Region constituency No 9 focused on issue of political prisoners. He said that the jails bill should include provisions on protection of rights for political prisoners."..... OTHER DOMESTIC NEWS: President U Thein Sein meets flood victims in Sagaing Region...Ministry to continue prosecutions to recover bad debts...Orthopaedic Specialist Hospital opens in Nay Pyi Taw...Senior General quashes reports of retirement...KIA blows up rice warehouse in northern Shan state...Myawady District sports contests showcase young talent...Departmental officials provide training for rural youth...UEC, political parties meet in Yangon...Readers to enjoy e-books on Pitakat treatises and religious books...CBM warns private banks over exchange rate manipulation...Railway authorities repair flood-hit tracks on Mandalay-Myitkyina route...K 3.6 billion worth of stimulant tablets seized from former KKO camp..... EXTERNAL RELATIONS: No further licenses for foreign insurers this year, regulator says...Czech Ambassador calls on Speaker of Pyithu Hluttaw...Thiri Pyanchi U Tun Nay Linn concurrently accredited as Ambassador to Colombia...Sitagu Sayadaw?s blessing marks completion of major milestone at Star City...Myanmar crab production down despite strong demand..... "PERSPECTIVES": "Companies must earn customer loyalty" by Aung Khin..... ARTICLE: "Make Election Free and Fair" by Htun Tin Htun