He’s the most outspoken talk show commentator in Belize’s media, but tonight Kremandala part owner Rufus X is recovering from a compound fracture to his left hand. Rufus X was assaulted with a length of steel in his yard last night and he says it’s a politically motivated hit. And while the assault left him bruised and battered, when we spoke to him this morning, he was unbroken, and ever militant.

Jules Vasquez Reporting,
This was Rufus X this morning. His hand broken in two places, and basically confined to his car because bruising in his thigh has made it difficult for him to get around. From his car seat, he told us what happened after he finished the Kremandala Show and got here to his home in the Buttonwood Bay area.

Rufus X, Attacked
“I got home about 9:30 pm and I drove in through my gate that I open via remote control and as soon as I opened my front door, the driver’s side door, I was twisting my body forward, swinging my body out of the car,one guy exactly at the rear driver’s side back door announced my name, ‘Rufus X.’ I nodded, I looked in his face and nodded and acknowledged and right then he unleashed his attack with a piece of iron, an extra large heel strap, and he continued his attack until my gate was closing but of course he had sufficient space that he can escape and then he dashed out.”

Jules Vasquez,
I know you are a man who carries a firearm.

Rufus X,
“Well I think everybody should in these days and times.”

Jules Vasquez,
But you didn’t use it or you didn’t have the opportunity to use it?

Rufus X,
I didn’t have the opportunity to use it effectively because the guy was too far. He was too far out of range already.”

Today Rufus shared with us his X-Ray results which show two breaks in his hands.

Rufus X,
“My hands are broken in two places and badly bruised, badly disfigured. In fact the doctor even commented about all the swelling last night. But it's not a guy that wanted to stop but I guess the closing of the gate frightened him, that the gate was closing on him so he had to leave.”

Jules Vasquez,
So you think he intended to bludgeon you to death?

Rufus X,
“Oh yes, yes that was the intention. This is not a guessing game Jules but right now its very desperate in the political arena and we know what these attacks and threats are coming from, we know where they are coming from. We have no doubt about that.”

Jules Vasquez,
So who did this and why?

Rufus X,
“Well like I said we have no doubt where it's coming from and why, to silence us because we are a people who conduct talk shows that address corrupt situations in this country, Jules.”

“Especially now leading up to the election there is a whole lot of corruption that needs to be left under the mat and if you are unearthing it then life in the city becomes more dangerous. And Jules it is very clear because this guy that attacked me, definitely it was not typical Belizean youth who are getting themselves in trouble. This guy was probably brought in from some other elite society. This guy is an Arab/Hispanic descent guy, he was well dressed in dark clothing and he didn’t look like any thug in the street.”

“Jules the things that I stand for, people in Belize respect me for that kind of outspokenness and this is why they cannot get any of these street wise black kids to come out and attack Rufus X. I always challenge them, I always challenge the establishment: you try to get one of those streetwise black kids to attack Rufus X and you will fail miserably.”

But regardless of what he says was an attempt on his life, Rufus X says he will not step down his rhetoric.

Jules Vasquez,
Are you intimidated, are you afraid?

Rufus X,
"Not at all, in fact this is a war they have started that will really really they’ll have to tell the nation they’re sorry about this war. Intimidated? This is just getting started.”

Jules Vasquez,
How will you retaliate?

Rufus X,
“Well I wouldn’t disclose that at this point Jules. You wouldn’t expect Rufus to disclose my retaliation program but if a man attempted to take your life then you must try to secure it the best way you can.”

X has made a complaint, but at this time, police have no one detained. Of course, this attack comes less than a week after the host of KREM’s WUB Mose Hyde woke up to hear gunshots outside his home and then found two un-lit molotov cocktails on his car seat.

Noting both attacks, the Belize Independent Media Association, of which Channel 7 is a member, sent out a statement at noon today saying, “BIMA wishes to inform those responsible that its members will stand together to resist any form of intimidation, whether it comes from criminal elements or political sources.” It notes: “the right of an independent media to report and comment on the events of the day free from the threat of acts of violence.” And concludes: “we stand ready to defend that right both jointly and individually.”