Ban Nam Khem

{{Short description|Village in Thailand}}

File:201304011056a Nam Khem Pier.jpg

Ban Nam Khem ({{langx|th|บ้านน้ำเค็ม}}, also spelled Baan Nam Khem) is a village on the Andaman Sea coast of southern Thailand, located in Bang Muang subdistrict, Takua Pa district, Phang-nga province. It was one of Thailand's worst-affected areas in the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, which killed around a quarter of its population of 4,200 and destroyed 80 percent of its homes.

Ban Nam Khem was originally a small fishing community of around 30 households, until tin mining concessions granted in the area around 1972–1973 led to an economic boom which saw a sharp rise in population. The industry collapsed in the late 1980s, and the village's economy reverted to fishing and related activities.{{cite journal |last1=Usavagovitwong |first1=Nattawut |last2=Khwansuwan |first2=Poon |title=Civil Society, Network and Community Participation in Configuring Strategic Development Plan, Baan Nam Kem Community, Phang Nga Province |journal=Journal of Architectural/Planning Research and Studies |date=September 2007 |volume=5 |issue=2 |pages=79–96 |url=https://so02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/jars/article/view/169160 |language=th}}

Following the tsunami, Ban Nam Khem became a major focal point of government rebuilding efforts and external aid. The village also saw the development of a local civil society movement as the community self-organized to participate in future planning and negotiate long-standing conflicts over land rights. Local groups also pushed for disaster preparedness efforts, for which Ban Nam Khem has become recognized as a model community.{{cite web |author1=UNDP |title=Baan Nam Khem: A resilient fishing community in Thailand - Thailand |url=https://reliefweb.int/report/thailand/baan-nam-khem-resilient-fishing-community-thailand |website=ReliefWeb |access-date=19 August 2022 |language=en |date=27 December 2014}}{{cite news |title=ถอดโมเดลสึนามิถึงวิกฤตน้ำท่วม'54 จากจิตอาสาสู่เครือข่ายถาวร - จากการ "ให้" เป็น "พัฒนา" |url=https://thaipublica.org/2011/11/model-tsunami-crisis-54-flood/ |access-date=19 August 2022 |work=ThaiPublica |date=24 November 2011 |language=th}}{{cite news |author1=ไมตรี จงไกรจักร |title=เมื่อ “สึนามิ” คือจุดเปลี่ยนสังคมไทย เชิญร่วมแลกเปลี่ยน “ประสบภัย ประสบการณ์ ประสานเพื่อน” ในวาระรำลึกภัยพิบัติใหญ่เมื่อ 14 ปีที่แล้ว |url=https://mgronline.com/south/detail/9610000126817 |access-date=19 August 2022 |work=Manager |date=22 December 2018 |language=th}}{{cite report |author1=ไมตรี จงไกรจักร์ |author2=วันชัย จิตตเจริญ |author3=ประยูร จงไกรจักร์ |author4=มณฑา สดใส |author5=จันทร์ทิพย์ กิจกล้า |author6=ยุพิน โชติประพัฒน์ |author7=ดวงดาว มุณีพรหม |title=โครงการศึกษาและรูปแบบการแก้ปัญหาที่ดินเพื่อความมั่นคงในการอยู่อาศัยของชุมชนบ้านน้ำเค็ม อำเภอตะกั่วป่า จังหวัดพังงา: รายงานวิจัยชุมชนฉบับสมบูรณ์ |date=2015 |publisher=Thailand Science Research and Innovation |url=https://elibrary.trf.or.th/project_contentTRFN.asp?PJID=RDG57M0012 |language=th}}

Life at Ban Nam Khem continues to be shaped by memories of the tsunami, and annual remembrance ceremonies are held at the Ban Nam Khem Tsunami Memorial, the country's main memorial to those who died in the event, which opened in 2006.{{cite web |last1=Luekens |first1=David |title=Ban Nam Khem and Tsunami Memorial |url=https://www.travelfish.org/sight_profile/thailand/southern_thailand/phang_nga/khao_lak/1477 |website=Travelfish |access-date=19 August 2022 |language=en |date=22 March 2017}} The Ban Nam Khem Tsunami Museum was constructed from 2017, and opened as a public learning centre in 2022.{{cite news |last1=Karnjanatawe |first1=Karnjana |title=Tsunami memorial to open in December |url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/travel/2137675/tsunami-memorial-to-open-in-december |access-date=19 August 2022 |work=Bangkok Post |date=24 June 2021 |language=en}}
{{cite news |last1=Sangpolsit |first1=Natthaphon |last2=Rujopakarn |first2=Paul |title=Ban Nam Khem Tsunami Museum Officially Opens in Phang Nga |url=https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG220206130554068 |access-date=19 August 2022 |work=thainews.prd.go.th |publisher=National News Bureau |date=6 February 2022 |language=en}}