Police have cancelled a crime re-enactment of the blast at the Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel in Songkhla's Hat Yai district last year, citing security concerns.
The re-enactment was scheduled to take place yesterday morning, but Pol Col Surachet Hakpan, deputy commander of Songkhla police, said it had been postponed indefinitely. Authorities were worried about the prospect of further insurgent violence.
Key suspect Jaema Wani, who was arrested on Feb 5, was supposed to take part in the crime re-enactment at the clock tower intersection in Songkhla's Chana district and at the hotel.
But Pol Col Surachet said police were concerned that if Mr Jaema was taken to those areas, reprisal attacks might be staged, particularly in Hat Yai.
The explosion at Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel occurred on March 31 last year, when Mr Jaema and other two suspected accomplices _ Seree Waemamu and Ruslan Baima _ allegedly drove a car carrying bombs and parked it in the hotel basement. The bomb killed three people and injured more than 350.
Meanwhile, Chana, Thepha, Na Thawi, Saba Yoi, Hat Yai and Muang districts are being kept under 24-hour watch by authorities.
Routes connecting the six districts are also being patrolled by security officers, while municipal areas are under surveillance by closed-circuit cameras and the use of checkpoints.
Songkhla governor Grisada Boonrach yesterday gave a 500,000-baht reward for information leading to the arrest of Mr Jaema to the people involved.
The cash prize was divided between the Southern Border Provinces Police Operation Centre, Songkhla Special Task Force authorities and Thepha district officials.
The reward was funded by donations from Songkhla residents.
Mr Grisada also urged Mr Seree and Mr Ruslan to turn themselves in.
He offered the suspects assurances they would not face legal charges, but would instead undergo a six-month rehabilitation programme under Section 21 of the Internal Security Act.