Screenshot of the petition on the Avaaz portal, presented by Venezuelan opposition politician and writer Enrique Ochoa Antich.
Guacamaya, March 20, 2025. A group of Venezuelan opposition figures presented a petition to President Donald Trump on Thursday, urging an end to sanctions.
The letter argues that “unilateral sanctions, both collective and individual, implemented without due process, constitute a violation of international law and human rights.”
The appeal to the U.S. president adds that such sanctions affect the Venezuelan nation “as a whole, particularly the poorest,” and “do not weaken the hegemonic political regime but instead stimulate its more authoritarian elements.”
The petition was initially created by politician and writer Enrique Ochoa Antich. Now acting as an independent, he is considered a prominent leader of the democratic left in Venezuela.
The context of the letter is the revocation of General License 41, which allowed the American company Chevron to produce and export Venezuelan crude oil despite the sanctions.
The petition also condemns the expulsion of Venezuelans from the U.S. “without trial, due process, or in violation of a federal judge’s ruling.” This latter point refers to the deportation of migrants from the South American country to “mega-prisons” in El Salvador.
Finally, the statement asserts that “it is disheartening to see an extremist sector of the opposition, confirming its status as a force backed by other nations, not only applauding but also promoting such actions against Venezuela and Venezuelans.”
The letter has already been signed by 28 Venezuelan opposition figures, including former presidential candidates Antonio Ecarri and Eduardo Fernández, former ministers Gustavo Márquez and Víctor Álvarez, prominent journalist Vladimir Villegas, economist Francisco Rodríguez, and former rector of the UCV Luis Fuenmayor.
The list of signatories, presented in alphabetical order, includes:
Antonio Ecarri
Armando Amengual
Bruno Gallo
Carlos Mendoza Potellá
Daniel Santolo
Eduardo Fernández
Eduardo Semtei
Enrique Ochoa Antich
Felipe Mujica
Francisco Rodríguez
Fredderyck Villegas
Giovanna De Michele
Gustavo Hernández
Gustavo Márquez
Johel Orta
Josefina Jordán
Jorge Ignacio Barragán
Leonardo Morales
Luis Augusto Romero
Luis Fuenmayor Toro
Manuel Isidro Molina
Rafael Quiroz
Rafael Simón Jiménez
Ricardo Ríos
Roberto López
Víctor Álvarez
Vladimir Villegas
